Some believe Jim was so blatantly confident because he figured LeBron James was coming to the Lakers as a free agent that summer. […] Indeed, his father had shot for the stars often and hit. So why wouldn’t it happen again?

So Jim told people that Carmelo Anthony was coming the next summer. He told people that (Dwight) Howard was staying the previous year. […] He told people as soon as the Lakers’ recent season was winding down that Kevin Durant was coming this summer…with Russell Westbrook the next.

The Los Angeles Lakers’ decision to dismiss head coach Byron Scott came as a surprise to even team president Jeanie Buss, who said she didn’t know that her brother (vice president of player personnel Jim Buss) and general manager Mitch Kupchak had decided to cut ties with Scott.

In 2014, Jim Buss told his five siblings, including Lakers president Jeanie Buss, he would step down in three years if the team did not reach that benchmark. That expiration date apparently is set for after the 2016-17 season. […] “He’s the one who made it public,” Jeanie Buss said an appearance on Colin Cowherd’s radio show on Tuesday. “I have no reason to think he cannot be successful in terms of putting together a winning team.”

They have set franchise records for worst losses in a season for two consecutive years. They have struck out both in playoff appearances and landing an elite free agent for three consecutive years. They have gone through a coaching search for the fourth time in five years. And yet… “What I made clear to our front office is we’re going to be judged by wins and losses,” Jeanie Buss said. “It isn’t about having a marquee star player and coming in last place. That’s not what Lakers basketball is. Lakers basketball is winning basketball.”

They will have up to $60 million in cap space because of Kobe Bryant’s retirement, Roy Hibbert’s free agency and Brandon Bass’s plan to opt out of his player option. They have a young core nucleus featuring a visionary point guard (D’Angelo Russell), an aggressive scorer (Jordan Clarkson) and versatile forwards (Julius Randle, Larry Nance Jr.). The Lakers also have 55.8 percent odds in landing another young player by virtue of retaining their top-three protected pick. […] “I have no reason to think they can’t show a major improvement from this past season,” Jeanie Buss said. “This past season was the worst season in Lakers franchise history. There’s nowhere to go but up. Now they have all the tools that a front office needs to make trades and sign free agents and keep our draft pick in the lottery.”

Scott was thanked for his “hard work, dedication and loyalty,” but the team decided it was “in the best interest of the organization to make a change at this time,” according to a brief statement from Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak released by the team about 9:15 p.m. Sunday.

Kupchak and team Vice President Jim Buss made the decision jointly, according to a person who was familiar with the situation. Team President Jeanie Buss “absolutely” did not take part in the process, continuing to allow her brother, Jim, and Kupchak to preside unencumbered over the team’s basketball operations. […] Jim Buss said two years ago he would resign his executive position “in three to four years if we’re not back on the top — and the definition of top means contending for the Western Conference, contending for a championship.”

A little more than a week ago, Kupchak appeared to give Scott a vote of confidence, saying he did an “excellent job” under the circumstances of an inexperienced roster mixed in with Kobe Bryant’s final season. […] Scott went 21-61 in his first season with the Lakers, setting a low for the franchise. He followed it up with a 17-65 mark this season, again reaching new depths for losing.

Scott will meet with his bosses in the coming weeks to assess his future.

Per the OC Register:

General Manager Mitch Kupchak said he and top basketball executive Jim Buss will meet with Scott—who has a dismal .231 winning percentage as a coach—in the coming weeks to go over his job performance and that “anything is possible,” including replacing Scott, 55.

Scott does not believe he has coached his last game for the Lakers. […] “Obviously this summer is another big summer for us,” he said, “and I’m looking forward to it as the head coach of the team until they tell me differently.”

The sum of the Lakers’ collective failures has led to significant outcry for Scott’s dismissal, despite another year on his contract, with fans and pundits clamoring for a change. […] “To be honest with you,” Scott said, “I‘m much smarter than all of them when it comes to basketball.”

Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak was in no mood Wednesday to address Byron Scott’s future with the franchise, telling reporters that Scott is “under contract and until that changes or if that changes, we’ll let you know.”

Scott is in the second of a four-year, $17 million deal with the Lakers, and has said that he feels secure despite the team’s ongoing struggles and internal clashes.

Per the OC Register:

Pressed further, Kupchak said, “I don’t want to get into a Byron discussion right now. I’m not going to answer any more questions about Byron. My concern is one question will lead to another. If his status changes, I’ll let you know.” […] Throughout Scott’s tenure, Kupchak has been steadfast in his support, often mentioning his work ethic and how hard the players competed. In January, Kupchak praised Scott’s tough-love style in handling his young players.

Scott told Julius Randle to grow up after being taken out of a game and has been hard on rookie D’Angelo Russell in an effort to help him mature. […] A year ago, when the Lakers were headed to the worst record in franchise history, Kupchak threw his support behind Scott, complimenting how competitive the Lakers were playing through a litany of injuries.

Kupchak said he prefers the focus for the final two months of the season be on the continued development of the younger players. […] “We’ve lost a lot of games and there’s a tendency to play it out, but I don’t want our young players to look at it that way,” Kupchak said. “I talked to a couple of them this morning about it, to finish the season strong. So we want to see them in the face of this adversity, of this kind of a tough season, to show some mental toughness, to push through it and show me your best.”

Kupchak continues to hold out hope that the Lakers will fare better during free agency this summer than they have in the last few years.

Per ESPN:

“Under normal circumstances [in a season like this], at some point, you would probably concentrate on just developing all your young players,” Kupchak said Tuesday. “But we can’t do that right now. This [season] is really a justified farewell to perhaps the best player in franchise history. And, God-willing, he’s going to want to play every game and he’s going to want to play a lot of minutes in every game, because that’s just the way he is. And as long as that continues, which it should, then that’s 30-35 minutes that you might give to a young player that you can’t. How do you get a feel for your team going forward when you know that your best player is not going to be there next year? So it’s really hard to go forward until he’s no longer here. That’s not a bad thing. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing at all. It’s something that I think is a good thing. In some regards, there’s a silver lining. Our younger players can make mistakes, and it can kind of go under the radar because Kobe garnishes so much attention. Every game, it’s about Kobe. Even when he doesn’t play, it’s about Kobe. So in a lot of regards, there’s a silver lining that our guys can develop under the radar and maybe make a mistake or make two mistakes and it not be a big deal.”

Meanwhile, the 37-year-old Bryant has been a focus, with Lakers coach Byron Scott adamantly supporting his former teammate at every turn, even saying at one point that he would “never, never, never” bench the star no matter how much he struggles. […] “I was hoping that our young players, in conjunction with the veterans that we added, and Kobe at full health, would lead to a better record than what we have today,” Kupchak said. “I didn’t have any visions that we’d win 50 games or 45. Could we have won 45 or 40? I guess it’s possible. In fact, it still is possible. But where we stand today, it looks like we’re not going to meet that benchmark. So, in some regards, I’m disappointed with where we are today, but it is what it is. Kobe’s made a decision. He can’t play every game. He wants to play every game. We have to figure out a way when he does play to play with him, get him the minutes that he wants, get him ready for the next game, hope he plays the next game, and if he doesn’t, we have to get our lineup in such a way that we can compete and develop the young players. It’s not a perfect scenario, but there’s no way to plan this. There just isn’t.”

“I think we’ll see enough [from the younger players],” Kupchak said. “Yeah, I think we’ll see enough. I do. Kobe has been really good lately. He looks like he’s trying to fit in and play the right way. Yeah, I think we’ll see enough. Is it going to come as quick as you want? I mean, D’Angelo (Russell) is going to be 20. They all want it now, but it’s just going to take a year or two or three. But it’s certainly going to be a lot more attractive than what we had to offer last summer.”

According to GM Mitch Kupchak, Bryant is the greatest Laker of them all.

Per the LA Times:

Which of Bryant’s two numbers will the Lakers honor? […] “I don’t know the answer. Obviously it’s going to be 8, 24 or it could be both,” said Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak at a season ticket holder event Sunday.

Bryant played the first half of his career with No. 8, winning three championships. He wore 24 for the Lakers’ most recent two titles.

Where does Kupchak place Bryant among the greatest Lakers of all time, a list that includes Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal, Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain? […] “The fact that [Bryant] put together 20 years, to me, separates [him] from the pack,” said Kupchak. “We’re so lucky and gifted to be able to watch this guy. To make his announcement, now you can watch every game on TV; come to every game in the arena — and really appreciate what you’re looking at,” said Kupchak. “It’s really a gift that he’s giving us. It’s going to be a really sad moment when we look at our roster sheet, and you go down the sheet and Kobe Bryant’s name is not going to be on it.”

Speaking to a group of season-ticket holders Sunday at Staples Center, Kupchak assured them that—with some $60 million in cap room to spend on free agents this summer—the team should be able to quickly rebuild.

Per the LA Times:

“We cannot move on as a team until Kobe leaves,” Kupchak said. “Part of that to me is painful because I’ve been here 20 years with Kobe.

“This is a year that’s dedicated to Kobe and his farewell. From my point of view, it gives me complete clarity. … We know what our [salary] cap situation is going to be like.”

In the meantime, the team is grooming its young core of players. […] “We feel in the last two years that we’ve gotten at least five attractive young players,” said Kupchak, listing Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson, D’Angelo Russell, Larry Nance Jr. and Anthony Brown. “We’re so much in a better spot today than we were a year ago. We didn’t have that core.”

A 3-19 record would have most coaches on the proverbial hot seat, but given how Kobe Bryant’s Fare Thee Well Tour will nicely dovetail into the Ben Simmons Draft Sweepstakes, Los Angeles Lakers head coach Byron Scott appears to have plenty of job security.

He has also overseen the Lakers’ worst start in franchise history, a 123-122 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday at Target Center marking the team’s fourth consecutive loss as the Western Conference’s worst team. […] But Byron Scott still has enough support from Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak and vice president of player personnel Jim Buss that he is expected to coach through the rest of the 2015-16 season, according to team sources familiar with the situation. With Scott signing a four-year, $17 million deal last summer, the Lakers plan to evaluate his future once the 2015-16 season ends, according to a team source.

The Lakers are not happy with the persistent losing, obviously. But Kupchak and Buss sympathize with Scott on handling what one team source called “a no-win situation.”

On one hand, Scott has felt pressure to handle Bryant’s workload in his 20th and final NBA season. Scott remains mindful of Bryant’s struggles, averaging 15.9 points per game average on 30.9-percent shooting in 30.6 minutes per game. […] But out of respect for Bryant’s extensive accomplishments that have spanned five NBA championships and his current retirement tour, the Lakers have understood Scott’s tendency to lean on him heavily. They are also mindful of the challenge it takes to manage Bryant’s competitive nature.

Mitch has been around for Bryant’s entire 20-year ride in Purple and Gold, though he wasn’t in the building for The Black Mamba’s first game due to the birth of his son.

From the team website:

On his reaction to Bryant’s announcement. […] Kupchak: “I’m not surprised. The surprising part about this is that he made the announcement today. My understanding all along was that this was going to be his last year. Certainly there’s been speculation, and this puts an end to any speculation that he may come back for another year. But it was my understanding all along.”

On why he thinks now was the right time for Bryant to do this. […] Kupchak: “We didn’t make it easier for him with the group we have on the court, and that’s not to say they’re not a talented group of players. But they’re certainly young and unaccomplished. And at an advanced age, I think we witnessed that it’s difficult to play this game. He’s certainly struggled to play at a tempo and pace that I think younger players and the game is playing today. I think under a certain system with motivation to contend, it might have been different. Maybe he wouldn’t be as frustrated — I shouldn’t use the word ‘frustrated,’ because I don’t know if he is frustrated or not. I don’t think the game would be as hard for him as it appears it’s been for the last month.”

On balancing playing Bryant and allowing the young core to develop. […] Kupchak: “It is awkward. It’s awkward, but there’s really no other way to go about it. When you have a player of Kobe’s caliber that wants to continue to play and you think he can play at a high level, you’re gonna let him play until he no longer wants to play. Yet, it’s clear that we had to begin the process to rebuild the team. We were hopeful that we would get off to a better start this year. We think we added a couple of veterans along with a bunch of young players. I thought that we would be better than two wins into the season. That’s not to say that we would be on pace to win 60 or 50 games, but I thought we’d be a little bit better. Clearly we’re not playing at the kind of level that a player of Kobe’s age and experience finds challenging. Kind of like there’s no light at the end of the tunnel. So I’m not surprised that he would make the announcement now. I think the game will be easier for him now. I think he’ll be able to enjoy the rest of the season. We haven’t had a chance to huddle up to see if we’ll use him any differently in terms of minutes. I don’t think that’ something that’s going to be decided today. But since he has made it clear this is the last season for him, I think it’ll be more enjoyable. And I think people will appreciate what he’s accomplished — not only in our building, which has always been with loads of love — but I think even mores so on the road.”

Even more good news: Lord Byron reports that no one has discussed the possibility of making any changes to his coaching methods.

Per the LA Daily News:

As the Lakers finished practice earlier this week, coach Byron Scott and general manager Mitch Kupchak talked near center court. Scott reported he and Kupchak have “been talking almost every other day” throughout the Lakers’ 2-12 start.

“We still understand that this is a process,” Scott said. “We have a lot of young guys on this team that we feel will be very good players. But it’s not going to happen in a month. It’s going to take some time. It might take a year or two.” […] Scott revealed he and Kupchak have addressed “what we can do to get these young guys better and make the procedure for them a lot easier.”

Yet, Scott said Kupchak has left Scott freedom to coach as he sees fit. […] “I’ve told him what I’m thinking about doing at times, some of the things I want to do with the young guys and some of the things I want to do with some of our veteran guys,” Scott said. “But as far as the coaching part, he hasn’t talked about making changes.”

The 19-year veteran has been limited to 41 games over the past three seasons due to various devastating injuries—left Achilles tendon (April 2013), left knee (Dec. 2013) and right shoulder (Jan. 2015)—but the Lakers say he’ll still be their No. 1 option.

Per the LA Daily News:

So did Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak, who described Bryant “in great shape and great spirits” after spending the past eight months rehabbing his surgically repaired right shoulder, an injury that sidelined him last season for all but 35 games. Since then, Bryant has recovered enough to complete all basketball-related drills.

“He looks great,” Kupchak said on Thursday at the Lakers’ practice facility in El Segundo. “He assured me he’s working out every day. Over the years, we’ve gotten to he point where he takes care of himself and when he comes to camp, he’ll be ready. But as far as what level of play and how many minutes and how will he play on the team remains to be seen.”

Kupchak maintained “there hasn’t been any formal discussions” with Lakers coach Byron Scott, trainer Gary Vitti, Lakers president Jeanie Buss and Bryant himself on a number of things surrounding Bryant’s workload. Kupchak said the Lakers have not decided Bryant’s minute and practice limitations as well as if he will sit in any of the team’s 17 sets of back-to-back games. Kupchak only sounded certain that Bryant would sit out in portions of any of the Lakers’ two-a-day sessions in training camp beginning next Tuesday in Hawaii.

But as Kupchak noted, Bryant isn’t among the 10-plus players who have been working out this week at the team’s facility. After Bryant played a combined 41 games the past two seasons because of injuries – his last being the torn right rotator cuff that required surgery in January – the Lakers plan to bring him along slowly when the team holds training camp in Honolulu next month.

“My understanding is that he’ll be ready for camp,” said Kupchak, whose team has exhibition games scheduled at the University of Hawaii against the Utah Jazz on Oct. 4 and Oct. 6. “Knowing Kobe, he will try to participate in every practice in camp. But myself and (head coach) Byron (Scott) are going to have something to say about that. So I’m sure there will be a practice or two or three where we won’t let him practice, but I do expect him to be full bore at camp.”

“I love (Metta World Peace),” Kupchak said. “I really do. Last year, he was in Europe, he was in China. (Then) he coached his daughter’s middle school or high school team to a championship. He was here to work out when he got back from Europe playing, and then he’d come in through the summer. He’s been coming in on a regular basis. I do know that he wants to play, and that’s where we are. […] We’ve got a couple more weeks (until training camp). Our roster’s not complete. And we’ll just take it from there. Nothing’s imminent in terms of a signing anytime soon, but it’s hard not to watch a guy when he’s in your gym every day going up and down the court, working with young guys, playing hard. Part of me says he can still play, so I don’t know where we’re going to end up on it. But that’s kind of where it is.”

“We’re going to approach it like it is, but that doesn’t mean it is,” Buss said of Bryant. “I’m not going to sit there and say, ‘This is it, Kobe, you’re done,’ because it’s not my decision, it’s his decision.” […] Bryant, with one year left on his contract, will be the highest paid player in the NBA this season at $25 million. Buss gave Bryant a two-year, $48.5-million extension in 2013 before he even returned from a torn Achilles’ tendon six months earlier.

Buss has received plenty of criticism for over-investing in the aging star, who just turned 37 as he heads into his 20th season. […] “The man has done so much for the Lakers and the fans of the Laker nation, he deserves the money,” Buss said. “I don’t understand anybody trying to break down what I did for him. Let’s break down what he did for us, then say, what is he worth? To me, he’s worth that.”

So is this Bryant’s final year with the team? “My arms are like this,” Buss said, holding his arms wide open, about Bryant’s future. […] “He just has to know, at that age, and that many miles on you, what is your role? We’ll explain the role, and if he still wants to do that and that’s how he wants to go out, that’s fine with me.”

Jeanie Buss says the minimum standard for success is reaching the Western Conference Finals, and the Lakers have a couple of seasons to get back there before she talks to her embattled bro about serious changes in the organizational leadership structure.

No pressure or anything, Jimbo.

Per ESPN (via KPCC):

“Yeah, absolutely,” Buss said. “This is my job. I’m part-owner of the team, but I’m also the president. The Buss family is the majority owner but we have other partners as well who are also shareholders, and I have an obligation to them. Would I make those changes? Yes. My brother understands that we have to continue to strive for greatness, and I think he would be the first one to feel that he would need to step down if he can’t get us to that point.”

“Well, I asked my brother, how long until we’re back into contention? And when I say ‘contention,’ that means past the second round, so either the Western Conference finals or the NBA Finals,” she said. “And he told me that it would take three years to rebuild it. So we’ve just finished Year 1 of that three-year [plan]. So we have two more years until he feels that we’ll be back into going past the second round in the playoffs.” […] “I think that it’s been clear that for the Lakers to miss the playoffs two seasons in a row, that’s never happened before,” she said. “We are coming off our worst season in the history of the franchise, which is tough to swallow, because my dad [former Lakers owner Jerry Buss] set the bar so high. But my brother had asked that he be given time to put together the kind of roster. And I agree that he needs the time so that he can show people what he envisions as Laker basketball going forward.”

The Lakers finished a franchise-worst 21-61 last season after losing 55 games the season before. […] Jeanie Buss said the basketball operations staff has total control over its decisions and that she has “empowered” the staff to make those decisions.

The Lakers’ front-office expects the two to hash it out in their own way.

Per ESPN:

The tweet was published May 1, 2012, on the account belonging to Larry Nance Jr., a forward from the University of Wyoming whom the Lakers selected 27th overall in Thursday’s NBA draft. […] Nance’s tweet, which was deleted within minutes of his selection by the Lakers, read: “Gee I sure hope Kobe can keep his hands to himself in Denver this time.” It also included the hashtag “#rapist.”

Bryant was involved in a 2003 sexual assault case in Colorado. A woman accused Bryant of raping her in his hotel room, but all charges were dropped after she refused to testify. A civil suit was later settled, and Bryant publicly apologized, although he admitted no guilt in the matter.

“I’ve spoken to Larry Nance Jr. with John Black, our public relations director,” Kupchak said Thursday night. “Really, I’m not in a position to really share information. But it is something that they will have to discuss amongst the two of them. […] My understanding is that it’s something that happened years ago, and in today’s world, things don’t go away, which really doesn’t make it any less offensive because it was said three, four years ago.”

There is no questioning the influence that Kobe Bryant has on a young player’s development. After 19 seasons and 5 titles, Kobe has a lot of wisdom to impart. At the same time, Bryant has notoriously been hard on rookies, challenging them both on and off the court. (The Lakers’ top pick last year Julius Randle found out early.) The reality is that the Lakers’ decision on draft night will have a big impact on the remainder of Kobe’s career and the beginning of a new prospect’s career.

The Lakers have debated how they will use their No. 2 pick. Some options include Duke center Jahlil Okafor, Ohio State point guard D’Angelo Russell or point guard Emmanuel Mudiay, who played professionally last season in China. The Lakers also have the 27th and 34th picks. Kupchak argued such a youth infusion “can make it fun for (Bryant) again,” though Kupchak hopes to add more veteran players during free agency.

Which qualities would any of those No. 2 prospects need to flourish under Bryant’s imposing presence?

“We’re not going to pick a player because he can play with Kobe, likes Kobe or dislikes Kobe,” Kupchak told Los Angeles News Group. “We’re going to pick the player that can have the longest and best career.”

After all, Bryant will enter the 2015-16 season in what could become his last of a storied 20-year career. The Lakers hope their No. 2 pick can lead the franchise following Bryant’s eventual retirement. Still, Kupchak argued, “Kobe is going to impart a work ethic in training camp that will be beneficial to any player we bring.”

]]>http://www.slamonline.com/nba/mitch-kupchak-lakers-wont-draft-based-on-which-prospect-likes-kobe-or-dislikes-kobe/feed/0SLAMonlineLakers GM: Kobe Bryant ‘Indicated’ Next Season Will Be His Lasthttp://www.slamonline.com/nba/lakers-gm-kobe-bryant-indicated-next-season-will-be-his-last/
http://www.slamonline.com/nba/lakers-gm-kobe-bryant-indicated-next-season-will-be-his-last/#respondFri, 22 May 2015 21:00:42 +0000http://www.slamonline.com/?p=359991

The Los Angeles Lakers will pay Kobe Bryant an NBA-high $25 million salary next season, and general manager Mitch Kupchak continues to expect it be the living legend’s final run.

“He has indicated to me that this is it,” said Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak. “There have been no discussions about anything going forward and I don’t think there will be,” he continued.

“If somebody doesn’t want to play with Kobe, whether it’s this year or he decides to come back another year …. If there is a player out there like that, that won’t come here for that reason, then we don’t want him,” said Kupchak. […] The Lakers could have in the neighborhood of $22 million in cap room this summer.

“Every great player is demanding, focused, and if you don’t want to play for a guy like him that’s driven to do nothing but win championships and work hard, then you shouldn’t be here. You should be someplace else,” said Kupchak.

Just don’t expect the Lakers to throw crazy money at the mercurial floor general this summer (Rondo made $12.9 million in 2014-’15.)

The front-office in Los Angeles has reportedly cooled on Rondo given how badly things ended for him with the Dallas Mavericks—co-owner Jim Buss and general manager Mitch Kupchak have grown somewhat disenchanted with the 29-year old point guard.

Per Bleacher Report:

Thus no one should expect the Lakers to recycle those old “STAY” billboards for Dwight Howard, flipping them over to be barefaced welcome mats for Rondo this offseason, no matter how much he wants to come. […] The Lakers have higher priorities when it comes to spending their precious 2015 salary-cap space. They are hopeful of buying a foundational piece—something they aren’t convinced Rondo is.

The notion that the Lakers were going to be the ones to sign Rondo to a maximum contract has been put forth and perpetuated mostly by people on his side, not the Lakers’. Now that Rondo’s season is over due to an indeterminate back injury and indubitable productivity famine, it’s time to begin projecting his next stop. […] Will it be the Lakers? Even they have little idea, because they don’t know what better players they can attract with their free-agent offers. The Lakers will have perhaps $22 million to spend this summer—and they’re somewhat torn internally how much a newly motivated Rondo, 29, might push the franchise forward.

Which brings us to another reason the Lakers might see Rondo helping: Kobe. Bryant was excited with the possibility Chris Paul might join him before the NBA intervened, and made news this season with a very public breakfast meeting with Rondo in Boston. A great point guard would help an aging Bryant economize his effort and game by feeding him in prime scoring position. It never came to fruition with the injury-prone (Steve) Nash, but Rondo makes theoretical sense with his court vision—and disinterest in competing with Bryant for shot attempts.

As for attracting top-flight free agents this summer, Kupchak offered Thursday that his front-office would be “active participants.”

Per the OC Register:

“It can get better quick,” he said. “Every year, we have the same goal, which is to win a championship. We can get better quickly. We can be in the hunt quickly.”

Even more ambitious, Kupchak said it’s possible for the Lakers to return to the top of the Western Conference, which would meet the reportedly self-imposed deadline of Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Jim Buss. […] “Three years from now is forever,” Kupchak said.

In the short term, the Lakers turn their attention to the May 19 draft lottery, which determines whether they will have a top-five pick in June’s draft. That will set in motion what is expected to be one of the busiest Lakers’ offseasons in memory, with enough cap space to chase max-level players such as LaMarcus Aldridge, Marc Gasol, Goran Dragic and Rajon Rondo. […] “We do anticipate we’ll be active in the free-agent market,” Kupchak said. “We have no idea how it’s going to play out. But we’ll be active participants. That would be my guess.”

LA Clippers veteran forward Matt Barnes has basically no filter when he speaks, as he once again proves in an excellent SI profile.

Barnes, a former Laker, had a few run-ins with Kobe Bryant before they became teammates and gained respect for one another—“Anyone crazy enough to mess with me is crazy enough to play with me,” Bryant famously explained.

Barnes says that high-profile free agents have continuously turned down the Lakers the last few seasons because of poor management by the front-office, not because they don’t want to play alongside Kobe (a narrative that had recently gained some traction.)

​​”The reason people don’t want to go to the Lakers is because of management,” Barnes says. “Kobe can be the scapegoat all they want but if you play hard, Kobe likes you. And if you bulls— around, he doesn’t. It’s plain and simple. He’s not a vocal leader. He just expects you to play as hard as you can every minute on the court, like he does.”

Barnes has first-hand experience with Bryant’s treatment of free agents. When he entered the market back in 2010, Barnes turned down a lucrative deal and decided instead to play with Bryant, a man with whom he shared several run-ins, including an incident where Barnes pretended to throw the ball at Bryant’s face and the longtime Laker didn’t even flinch.

“You want to be a Laker?” Bryant asked Barnes. “Hell yeah!” Barnes answered. […] Barnes soon learned what type of teammate he inherited on the plane ride to a 2010 preseason game. Barnes saw Bryant feverishly writing diagrams on a scrap of paper and asked what he was doing. “I’m drawing our offensive plays and where I’ll get double-teamed in the triangle,” he told Barnes. “That way I can figure out where you guys are going to be open.”

The Los Angeles Lakers (18-50) have now lost fifty games in consecutive seasons for the first time in franchise history, and are well on track to beat last season’s franchise-high mark of futility of 55 losses.

Scott says that the front-office likes how hard the squad is playing, regardless of the discouraging W-L record.

Per the LA Daily News:

“He said I’ve been doing a great job in getting all these guys to play hard every night,” Scott said. “With all the injuries that we’ve had and to be in the games that we’ve been in, he thinks I’ve done a terrific job.”

Scott also said Kupchak reiterated what he and executive Jim Buss stressed during last year’s coaching interviews. Then, Scott reported the Lakers’ front office conceded a possible lengthy rebuilding process that they would address in the 2015 offseason through the NBA Draft in late June and free agency in July. […] The Lakers could have as many as two first- and second-round picks. They will also have enough cap space to sign a marquee free agent to a maximum-caliber contract.

“We’re still on the right course and still sticking to what we talked about,” Scott said. “All of the things we talked about before they hired me and all the things we talked about since they hired me hasn’t changed.”

The Los Angeles Lakers will go all out for what could be their superstar’s final season, but don’t expect the franchise to hamstring itself in an effort to field a team that will give Bryant one last shot at a title.

But the Lakers’ star still exuded an aura of calmness surrounding all the adversity around him. That included Bryant’s optimism about returning for the 2015-16 campaign in what will mark his 20th NBA season and final year of his contract that will pay him $25 million. […] “I’ll be ready to go,” Bryant said. “I’ll do my regiment and be ready to go.”

“It’s a balance of both,” Bryant said. “You always want to set the franchise up for the long term. Mitch and I are on the same page. What he said in the interview is not something that we haven’t talked about before. It’s nothing different. You don’t want to compromise the future of the franchise for one season. You try to balance that.”

Bryant groaned after describing his recovery as “very boring.” After wearing a sling for six weeks following his surgery, Bryant has spent the past two weeks healing his shoulder through massage therapy. […] “I’m good. I’ve danced this dance before. I’m being patient and doing what I can everyday,” said Bryant, who averaged 22.3 points on a career-low 37.3 percent shooting this season through 35 games. “I don’t have much pain in it. The range of motion is very good. But they want me to play it safe and make sure it’s in place with where it should be.”

Looking ahead was “part of the process,” Lakers Coach Byron Scott acknowledged Monday, mentioning team executives Mitch Kupchak and Jim Buss. “Obviously, that’s what I’m trying to do and I know Mitch and Jim and everybody, they’re all on board with that as well. We knew this was going to be a tough year, but we also wanted some answers and the answer, especially with Kobe, is he obviously could still play at a very high level.”

The goal with Bryant this season, Scott said, now is to get “as much out of him as possible but also to get him to the point where next year he can also play at that high level again and not spend everything he has this year. Because if he plays every game, that’s what he’s going to do — he’s going to go out and play the hardest that he can possibly play and then probably have to take the whole summer to try to recuperate. And that’s just not him either. He wants to continue to work to get better.”

Scott again used the word “preserve” before describing his mind-set in sitting Bryant. […] “Again, just trying to get his body where it’s not as sore, hurting. He said the other day, ‘It just aches everywhere,’ ” Scott said. “I know it’s not going to be to the point where even four days or five days of rest means he’s going to come back and feel great. But he [ideally] feels good enough to be able to go out there and play, like he did against Cleveland.”

He looked exhausted, like Willy Loman at the beginning of “Death of a Salesman”. […] “Just old,” Kobe Bryant said Wednesday, with his bodyguards, as ever, by his side, as he prepared to go to work for the 1,484th time in his professional life — if you also count the 220 playoff games in which he’s played.

“He has challenges every year,” Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said Monday morning. “I think his challenge in years past was solely on winning the championship. I think the last year or two, that has not changed, But because of the injuries to his knee and Achilles, that also turns into a formidable challenge. Yeah, I want to win a championship, but I’ve also had two major injuries. Can I get back to playing at a high level at my age? I think that’s a challenge that fuels him as well. He’s never been about one game or one week. I think as far as trying to continue to win, I think he’s challenged to show that he can recover from his injuries and play at a high level. Some of this is beyond his control.”

“All indications are, to me, from him, that this (two-year contract) is going to be it,” Kupchak said. “If somebody’s thinking of buying a ticket three years from now to see Kobe play, I would not do that. Don’t wait. Do it this year.”

Lakers coach Byron Scott had what he called a “state of the union meeting” recently with general manager Mitch Kupchak, but declined to go into detail on what came out of those discussions. […] “We just had a meeting about the team in general,” Scott said. “We talked about doing that every 15-20 games.”

How do the Lakers fill an injury-depleted roster that currently features only 11 active players? […] “It’s enough depth to get us through games,” Scott said. “But our last couple of days our biggest problem has been having 10 guys that we can practice so we can get some work done that we need to do on both ends of the court. From that aspect, it might be a little bit more feasible for us to add a guy. Mitch and I will talk about it.”

As he walked to his seat at Staples Center, he was asked whether the Lakers could still make the playoffs. […] “You know, anything can happen,” Kupchak said. “We’re going to try to win every game. Certainly, we’ve dug a hole for ourselves and it’s going to take a while to climb out. The West, I believe, has 10 teams over .500 right now. But stuff happens.”

]]>http://www.slamonline.com/nba/byron-scott-lakers-gm-mitch-kupchak-held-state-union-meeting/feed/0SLAMonlineByron Scott Thinks the Lakers Will Win a Title With Him as Head Coachhttp://www.slamonline.com/nba/byron-scott-thinks-lakers-will-win-title-head-coach/
http://www.slamonline.com/nba/byron-scott-thinks-lakers-will-win-title-head-coach/#respondMon, 17 Nov 2014 16:15:07 +0000http://www.slamonline.com/?p=340411

The Los Angeles Lakers (1-9) are off to their worst start in the franchise’s 66-year history, but head coach Byron Scott continues to sell optimism to his players and the

Upper management says they’re unwilling to purposefully tank away seasons in order to gain high draft picks, but the team is so bad that they likely won’t have to.

Per ESPN:

Before a recent game, Byron Scott said he told his players “doubt kills dreams.” The Los Angeles Lakers coach was just getting warmed up. […] “I told them that I have no doubt that we will win a championship in my tenure here as head coach,” Scott said last week, “because I know this organization. But I do know it’s going to take some patience. It’s a process.”

“It’s a lottery,” said Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said during a recent interview in his office. “It doesn’t mean anything. I mean, last year, we got the seventh pick in the draft, and to me, it felt like we lost every game. I don’t know how you lose more games to try to get a better pick. I just don’t know how you do it.” […] “We would never [tank],” he said. “This business doesn’t work that way.”

Though he’s enjoying his work as a hoops analyst, George Karl very much wants to get back into the coaching game. Karl says he’d love to talk to the Los Angeles Lakers about taking over for Mike D’Antoni. Per ESPN:

“Mitch Kupchak [Lakers general manager] and I were roommates in college and Mitch has been a very good friend of mine for years,” Karl said on “Off The Dribble” on SiriusXM. “Have I talked to Mitch in the last couple of weeks? No, I haven’t.”

The Lakers have yet to reach out to Karl, a source said.

Fired after guiding the Denver Nuggets to 57 wins in 2012-13 while being named coach of the year, Karl said he likely would have a conversation with Kupchak about the job. He also thinks he’s a candidate for other teams with openings. New York, Golden State, Detroit and Utah are looking for coaches.

“I would love the opportunity to probably talk to people, when they think I’m a person they should be talking to,” said the 62-year-old Karl, who also has coached Milwaukee, Golden State, Cleveland and Seattle in his career.

“Honestly I didn’t care,” Bryant said Thursday when asked by Kimmel if he was “happy” that D’Antoni accepted a buyout of close to $2 million for next season rather than come back to coach the team.

“Mike was dealt a really bad hand in dealing with all the injuries that he had here,” Bryant said. “This is a tough place, man. If you’re not winning, you’re not going to survive, man.”

Bryant added that Magic Johnson’s controversial tweet in which he celebrated D’Antoni’s departure reminded him of a scene out of “The Wizard of Oz.”

“The first thing I thought of was seeing the Munchkins on the Yellow Brick Road dancing and singing, ‘The Wicked Witch is dead,’ ” Bryant said. “When he tweeted that, that song just came to mind.”

Bryant hopes the Lakers will sing a different tune than they have in the past when it comes to consulting him about hiring their next coach.

“On the last two they didn’t,” Bryant said, referring to Mike Brown and D’Antoni, who both failed to endure the length of the initial contracts they signed with the Lakers before parting ways. “On the third one, I’m hoping they do.”

Taking over for a legend like Phil Jackson is never easy, of course. Bryant said he still speaks to Jackson “often” and expects the 11-time championship winning coach to transfer those results to his front-office role with the New York Knicks.

“I think he’ll do fantastic,” Bryant said. “Especially the more people say that he won’t be successful.”

“Jimmy (Buss) and Jeanie (Buss) both, they’re just really determined and excited about the possibilities of next season and rebuilding this and building on their father’s legacy and everything that he’s accomplished,” Bryant said. “And they’re taking the challenge extremely, extremely seriously. They’re both on the same page and they want nothing but excellence here, so I have no doubt that we’ll make it happen.”

The Lakers’ coaching search will be “completely wide open,” but they are not expected to have a new coach in place by the May 20 draft lottery, according to a person familiar with their thinking.

”In order for Mike to have done his job, we felt that having the option year picked up would have changed the narrative,” agent Warren LeGarie said Wednesday. “They knew that Mike would have been the coach and there would have been a different reaction.”

“It was an impossible decision for Mike,” LeGarie said. “He loved the guys on the team, the young guys. He clearly felt he had impacted their development and they had a real good buy-in on this. But clearly there wasn’t enough there to get us past some of the issues.”

Mike D’Antoni will receive less than half of the $4 million salary he was due for next season. His brief, horrific tenure as head coach of the Lakers included one of the worst seasons in franchise history (a 27-55 stain in 2013-’14), and an overall record of 67-87 in Los Angeles.

He won’t make close to the $19.3 million he pulled down this season with the Lakers, but he’ll be a popular guy when free agency begins.

“It’s a great position to be in,” he said Sunday. “It’s rare. The first time I will ever be in that position.”

It’s no secret that he dislikes Coach Mike D’Antoni’s offense. It’s also no secret that the Lakers will eventually weigh whether D’Antoni returns for the final guaranteed year of his contract.

By the time Gasol’s contract officially expires in a few months, he will know D’Antoni’s fate. Maybe there’s even a possibility of reuniting with the Lakers.

“I think there’s chances,” he said carefully. “It depends what the conditions are going to be, and then I’ll decide what’s best. At this point in my career, I just have to be picky, put my personal feelings aside and look at the whole picture.”

“There’s great interest in re-signing Pau back,” Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said. “I don’t know why there would not be interest. He’s a Hall of Famer. But by virtue of being a free agent, he’s in the market place. By being in the market place, we have to see how things play out.”

Gasol helped the Lakers to three NBA Finals appearances and two championships immediately after he was acquired in a trade from the Memphis Grizzlies. But ever since then, Gasol’s future with the Lakers has become as tenuous as a television pilot cementing its place in the network lineup.

“Statistically, he had a season that’s on par with the seasons in the past,” Kupchak said. “But that’s not how we evaluate success. I think he played as hard as he can play and his numbers are good. But as an organization we didn’t win many games. It was a bad season for everybody. I know with his injuries and his vertigo, it’s been a trying season for him physically.”

Kupchak: “We will not consult with him. No, we won’t consult with him.”

Q: Because when he was asked about Mike last week, the perception was that he didn’t go to bat for him publicly. That started the storyline of “Well, Mike’s not coming back because it doesn’t seem like Kobe wants him back.”

Kupchak: “We won’t consult with him. Our decisions going forward — we’re not going to do knee-jerk stuff. We’ll let the season end, and take some time. We’ve got a lot of injuries and surgeries to sort through. That’s a lot to accomplish. We have the draft coming up?”

Q: Do you have clarity on that (D’Antoni) decision yet?

Kupchak: “No. No. In fact, I told Jimmy (Buss) let’s get to the end season, take some time off…then review the season. Look at our roster. I mean we have a plan. We’ve aligned our contracts in such a way where we’re at a position where we’re not financially stuck. But there’s a lot we don’t know. We don’t know where we’re going to get our pick. Are we going to be sixth, are we going to be eighth, are we going to be two or three? We don’t know. We know who may be a free agent, but we don’t know for sure until June 30. So we know a lot, and we’re set up to take advantage of the situations — whether it’s to make a trade, take back a player, get a good draft choice, pursue free agency. But once again, it’s a different world than it was 20 years ago. And as much as we’d like to be very competitive and competing for a championship next year, it may or may not happen, ok?”

Mitch Kupchak remains patient, practical, and realistic in the face of enormous pressure from the huge Laker fan base, corporate partners and the team’s impatient, aging shooting guard. He’s honest about the Lakers perhaps not contending for NBA championships in the very near future.

As for Kobe and the loud ticking clock in his head as he stares down basketball mortality? Well, he’ll just have to suck it up, says Kupchak:

“He’ll be fine. He’s got no choice. He’ll be fine. When we lose, he’ll rant and rave and be upset and be hot and won’t talk to anybody, but that’s the way it is. You’ve got to take the good with the bad.”

Joe Smith is a die-hard Los Angeles Lakers fan who’s owned very expensive season tickets for over 50 years. He’s not only fed up with the team’s play on the court, but also angry with the organization’s questionable marketing tactics (to say nothing of an apparent lack of a cohesive plan going forward). Per the LA Times:

The former record mogul has four season seats on the baseline next to the Lakers bench. He has held those seats since the team arrived in Los Angeles. He has become as much of a fixture under the basket as the ballboys and Laker girls. No single ticket holder has endured longer, and certainly no single fan has invested more.

For 54 years, Joe Smith has loved the Lakers graciously, gratefully and unconditionally.

But then, two weeks ago, nearing the conclusion of the most rudderless, ridiculous Lakers season in history, Smith received a letter from the Lakers asking that he renew his season tickets two months earlier than in previous seasons.

That’s long before anyone will have any idea about the makeup of the future roster and coaching staff. That also enables the Lakers to collect an extra two months of interest on Smith’s $400,000-plus investment. All for a team that probably will finish with the franchise’s worst record since it came to Los Angeles.

After all this time, Joe Smith is finally considering dumping his tickets.

“This is so out of line,” said Smith. ”The organization has become toxic from top to bottom.”

“I can stand losing, but not the way they are losing,” said Smith. “Not with a coach who has an enormous wave of sentiment against him … not with all the confusion in the front office … it’s become a pathetic operation.”

The final straw for Smith was the letter, sent to the owners of the 14,500 season tickets, announcing the new final ticket renewal deadline is May 19. That is not only much earlier than in previous years, but it is also one day before the NBA draft lottery, smack in the middle of what could be a coaching search, and nearly two months before the Lakers will have a chance to begin signing free agents.

“For those of us who have been with them for 54 years, in good times and bad times, this is unconscionable,” said Smith. “They’re not going to be good for another couple of years at least, there’s times they look like a Developmental League team, it’s really no fun, yet they are arrogantly demanding that we renew earlier and hold our money even longer?”

When contacted for this story, Lakers officials note that they are not increasing the ticket prices — which only means for every home game, Smith still pays $2,750 per seat and $200 for valet parking.

“The world is changing, and as it does, so do the way companies, and not just sports teams, do business,” said John Black, team spokesman. “We need more time to implement new technology for the upgrade and renewal process, and we’re agreeing to the league’s demands that we fall in line with all other NBA team renewal deadlines.”

“I really hate to say this, but right now, you want good and entertaining basketball in this town, you go to the Clippers,” Smith said quietly, almost in a whisper.

(Chris) Kaman is the type who has done far more talking than listening in his life, and some of his talking this season has been about D’Antoni’s rigid, uncommunicative, distrustful coaching of the Lakers while not giving Kaman consistent playing time. Just one week earlier, Kaman had revealed that D’Antoni hadn’t talked to him for the previous three weeks.

D’Antoni has one more guaranteed season left on his Lakers contract, and the club is leaning toward retaining him despite some privately disgruntled players and massive public disdain. It’s not clear which way the organization will go with him.

And whatever it was that LeGarie, a famously smooth negotiator, had said, Kaman did his pregame shooting, came into the locker room and immediately told reporters there that people should be a lot less vicious and a lot more compassionate toward LeGarie’s client, poor Mike D’Antoni.

“He’s not trying to hurt anybody,” Kaman said. “He’s not purposefully doing anything negatively. I think he’s just trying to do the best he can with what we’ve got. All the injuries…I’ve never seen injuries like that before in my life.”

And this: “For as much heat as he takes, I don’t think that he has had a fair shot at it, either.”

And this: “We have to, as players, respect the position of the coach.”

“It’s been a tough year for him, as it has been for a lot of guys,” Kaman said. “Me, in particular, just being in and out, in and out, just trying to figure my way through all of this, I can sort of put myself in his shoes and try to look myself in the mirror and say, ‘What would I do if I was him?’ And it’s hard to answer that question; it’s a tough position.

“Especially with all the injuries we’ve had and all the different things we’ve had to go through, I think it’s no easy task for a coach. Especially with the Lakers. This is a first-rate organization, and they do things better than most. They’re used to winning, and it’s a lot of pressure. And all these injuries didn’t make it any easier for him.”

“I would think his days are numbered based on Kobe saying he had no interest in playing for him next year,” a source said. “If he isn’t with the Lakers, I believe he will be at Marshall because there is mutual interest.”

The source added that Marshall has donors willing to pony up money in an attempt to woo D’Antoni.

D’Antoni has been the head coach of the Lakers since the early part of the 2012-13 season, but injuries and chemistry issues have married his time in Los Angeles. He has also been the head coach for the Denver Nuggets, Phoenix Suns and New York Knicks.

Marshall recently fired Tom Herrion, who had a 67-67 mark in four seasons. Has D’Antoni recently talked with any Marshall representatives?

“I hear from them all the time,” D’Antoni said. “I’m the head of their capital [fundraising] campaign. I’m close friends to them. Whatever they need, I try to do. But who knows.”

D’Antoni played for the Thundering Herd from 1970 to 1973 before being selected in the second round of the 1973 NBA draft to play for the defunct Kansas City-Omaha Kings. D’Antoni eventually played overseas in Italy where he became Olimpia Milano’s all-time leading scorer. D’Antoni’s brother, Dan, also played and coached at the school before serving on Mike’s staffs with both the Suns and Lakers.

But D’Antoni obviously prefers to coach with the Lakers. He has two years left on his contract, though only one of them is guaranteed at $4 million. The Lakers do not plan to evaluate D’Antoni until after the season.

In it, Bean opens up about everything from the twilight of his NBA career, last season’s remarkable play (Kobe says he was playing his best basketball ever before his left Achilles tendon was shredded), his legendary partnership and personal battles with Shaquille O’Neal, and even offers his thoughts on pop stars Katy Perry and Justin Bieber.

Kobe on Shaq in the @NewYorker: "It used to drive me crazy that he was so lazy."

Kobe Bryant is in what he calls “the last chapter” of his career. “Twenty years is a long time, man,” Bryant says, adding that he is “fairly certain” that, when his contract expires in the summer of 2016, he’ll be done with professional play. Insisting that last season, before he suffered a debilitating injury to his Achilles tendon, “was the best basketball I’ve played in my entire career,” Bryant has vowed to defy skeptics, with a strong finish. “The thing that I think people don’t understand when they talk about Father Time, and they look at my injuries,” he says, is “they’re equating that to others who have come before me.” The next challenge lies in “doing something that a majority of people think that us athletes can’t do, which is retire and be great at something else,” Bryant says, adding, “Giorgio Armani didn’t start Armani until he was forty. Forty! There’s such a life ahead.”

Bryant continues: “I get questions all the time: ‘What are you going to do when you retire?’ As if I had no life, no talent outside of playing basketball. It absolutely drives me crazy. ‘You just going to golf all day?’ I’m, like, ‘No. Who the fuck said that?’ It’s maddening.” Mitch Kupchak, the Lakers’ general manager, says that he’d love for Bryant to one day be a coach, “just to try it for a year, whether it’s at the D-league level, or if his daughters play high-school basketball. And then, like, everything will crystallize to him—like, Holy mackerel! What was I thinking?”

Phil Jackson, the on-again, off-again coach who is responsible for all five of the Lakers’ recent championships, says, in the midst of a dismal season, Bryant “just wants to play for something,” adding, “He doesn’t want a farewell tour for Kobe Bryant.”

The Lakers’ 125-109 loss Wednesday to the San Antonio Spurs at Staples Center marked just one of many losses has entailed an injury-riddled roster. But even with the Lakers (22-45) destined to miss the playoffs for only the fifth time in playoff history, both Kupchak and Kobe Bryant showed sympathy for D’Antoni.

“It’s been tough on him,” Bryant said Wednesday on The Dan Patrick Show. “The two years that he’s been here, he’s been dealing with so many injuries left and right. He hasn’t really gotten a fair deal, fair shake at it since he’s been here.”

Bryant offered a non-committal “I don’t know,” on whether D’Antoni should stay. But what about Kupchak?

“I don’t want to get into that with those kind of questions,” Kupchak said. “He’s done a great job and dealt with a year last year when he was here part time and a ridiculous amount of injuries this year.”

D’Antoni has gone 62-77 through nearly two seasons with the Lakers. But the Lakers don’t plan on evaluating him until after the season ends.

Phil Jackson recently sat down for a lengthy chat with USA Today. They discussed his future in the NBA (Phil doesn’t want to coach again), Dwight Howard and the Houston Rockets (he thinks they can reach the NBA Finals), the analytics movement, and of course, the floundering Los Angeles Lakers. The Zen Master playfully suggests that Jesus (or Mohammed, maybe Gandhi) would do a good job coaching the Lakers:

“Right, so I think the Lakers will probably stay pretty pat, make another extension of the year that they had this year with the younger players and players coming in that they can look at and see if they can’t get a core group of young players playing together. Trust the fact that Mike (D’Antoni) can kind of blend a gun and run and run and gun team.”

Q: Is there any scenario where you get back in that mix? I’ve heard some chatter that you could become even more involved there, and there’s this idea that time heals all wounds and even though the way the coaching situation went down was botched that you could play a role, whether with (general manager) Mitch (Kupchak) in the front office or something else. Is that plausible at all?

“I don’t think so. I have a good relationship with the vice president in business affairs (Jeanie Buss) — at least it has been pretty good (laughs). She’s dedicated to their family running the business and trying to feel what that’s like. Their father’s memorial service is not a year old, but he has been gone for a year now and they’re still just kind of figuring out, ‘How are we going to do this?’ So I think they want to have an opportunity to do it. And Mitch, obviously, has a relationship with (Lakers executive vice president of player personnel and Jeanie’s brother) Jimmy that has been going on since, I think, 2004 or so, when he started becoming really involved. So for the last 10 years, he and Mitch have been pretty much working together. (Late Lakers owner) Dr. (Jerry) Buss came in on things. We had a few issues. Kobe (Bryant) had an issue one year. We had an issue getting Pau (Gasol). Some of the major moves, Dr. Buss was still there. But the other stuff Jimmy and Mitch have been working on. They’ve got a relationship, so I don’t see that happening.”

Q: Did you ever get complete clarity on whose decision it was to back out of what seemed like an agreement (when the Lakers hired Mike D’Antoni in Nov. 2012 after it appeared Jackson was returning)?

“You know, it was something that has bounced from spot to spot. When I left (the interview), Jimmy was pretty happy about it and Mitch was still saying, “We’re going to keep interviewing people,” and I think the ultimate (decision) kind of rested with Dr. Buss and he made the decision in the hospital the day after. I haven’t chosen to bite on that. I’ve just let that go. I’m real comfortable with it. I don’t have any trouble. I think Jesus could probably coach this team pretty well, but outside of him maybe Mohammed, maybe Gandhi, someone like that.”

Q: I hear you, but there’s still this puzzling dynamic that’s out there relating to you. For all the success you had, guys who worked for you don’t always have the red carpet rolled out like you might think when it comes to getting jobs.

“No. Well, the game has moved on to another level. Three-point shooting has become like the (pauses). Really the analytics people have taken it to the point of saying, ‘The worst shot in the game is a 20-foot jumper, a two-point jumper that’s 20 (feet).’ And the best shot might be the corner three. Efficiency, OERs (offensive efficiency ratings), all these efficiency ratings are pointing to how many points per possession you generate from certain types of shots. … But there’s so much more to the game.

“I like the analytics. We were always on the forefront of that. I’m not going to go after that. I think that it’s a really important movement. I think a lot of owners have turned the game, the general managers’ jobs, over to people who are more analytic-minded than basketball hierarchy or guys who have been around the league. I mean it seems to be the pattern, and I think they speak their language because a lot of these guys are financial guys. You give them statistics — this stock has done such and such over the past three months, and this is up. This is a language that they can talk, and a statistical language that’s pretty good. So I can understand that penchant. I do think that it’s still about that being able to look a guy in the eyes and kind of understand that this one is going to go in the fox hole with you and this guy is going to be one of the guys who’s on board with what we’re doing. Yeah, he’s going to be on the line when it comes to that time that’s the challenge. And then the rest of the stuff kind of falls in together. So I know that the penchant for following a lot of the things that are happening in the league is that as humans we kind of run with the pack a lot. I’ve been a Maverick, and that’s just who I am. But I certainly follow what’s going on and make a decision about what can I use and what’s efficient for me and what’s good for me. You know, the offense that I instituted is not what the NBA was doing in the late ’80s and early ’90s, and the game has moved on by that and a lot of people like to point at the Triangle as antiquated and (say) it works well in women’s basketball etc. etc. But it takes a lot of skill. And to coach skill, you have to spend a lot of time teaching skills.”

“No regrets,” Kupchak said. “We had a chance. You have to recognize where you are as a franchise. We felt we had a two year window, maybe three to go for a championship. That’s what we did. Looking back on it, which nobody can do, that’s a different story. But at the time, we knew exactly what we were doing.”

Nash missed a combined 32 games last season because of a fractured left leg and the subsequent nerve irritation that damaged his back and hamstring. Nash sat out of the Lakers’ 107-103 loss Thursday to the Oklahoma City Thunder at Staples Center after feeling nerve irritation in his back and hamstrings after colliding earlier this week with Chicago guard Kirk Hinrich. Nash has still vowed he will play this season and hopes to return after the All-Star break.

“I feel terrible for him. I really do,” Kupchak said. “Some players sulk and kind of get depressed and say I’m 38 years old, whatever it is, and say it wasn’t meant to be. But this guy has worked harder than anybody to get back. I just feel terrible for him. I really do. For someone who has had that career and worked that hard and came here to win a championship, something that has eluded him for years. But those things are out of his control and they’re out of our control.”

“Winning is never a bad thing,” Kupchak said. “If you try to manipulate the draft, I’m not a karma guy, but if you try to manipulate this thing, it never works out the way you think it’s going to work out.

“You’re better off doing what you know is the right thing to do and whatever happens happened for the right reason. And that’s our approach.”

Despite the lack of success, Kupchak gave another vote of confidence to Lakers Coach Mike D’Antoni.

“Under very trying circumstances, I think he’s done a great job,” Kupchak said. “Our players continue to play as hard as possible and compete in every game. After games, if we do lose, their heads go down and they’re upset. There’s no music playing, there’s no guys walking out of the locker room with a hop in their step. It bothers them to lose.”

“I’ve done that in the past,” Johnson said. “I told [General Manager] Mitch Kupchak that last week. First they have to make up their mind on who they want, and then they tell me, just like I recruited Ron Artest, I talked to Lamar Odom.”

“I talked to [late Lakers’ owner] Dr. [Jerry] Buss when Lamar and Dr. Buss were having that problem for a minute there,” Johnson said, referring to frosty negotiations between the two sides in 2009. “I was able to calm everybody down and make sure they understood how valuable Lamar was, and then Dr. Buss signed him back..

“I’ve been in a lot of different things with the Lakers, but it’s up to them — [owner] Jim [Buss], Mitch [Kupchak], Coach [Mike] D’Antoni to decide who they want. Once they make their decision, they say, ‘Hey, Earvin, can you put in a call to so and so.”

“Our future is a bright future. We’re going to be just fine,” said (GM Mitch Kupchak) on Wednesday to Jared Greenberg and Rick Fox on “SiriusXM NBA Radio.”

“The franchise is going to attract players,” he continued. “Unfortunately, we’re going to have a good draft pick this year. We’ll get a good player there.”

“This is what happens when you make the wrong decisions, two coaching wrong decisions, giving Steve Nash that deal, it’s backfired,” Johnson said. “The biggest problem they’re going to have right now … you’ve got to get a guy like Jerry West to be the face of the team. … You’ve got to have someone helping Jim. He’s got to quit trying to prove a point to everybody that he can do it on his own, get his ego out of it, and just say, ‘Let me get someone beside me to help achieve the goals I want.’ “

“You need to get someone like Jerry to be the face, so agents are comfortable, players are comfortable, knowing the Lakers are going for a championship. … Look what Pat Riley did in Miami,” referring to the former Lakers coach who built the current team featuring LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. If Pat Riley’s not there, you don’t get LeBron to buy in.” Johnson said that current Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak is doing a good job. “Mitch is great,” he said, “but he doesn’t have the power.”

Added Johnson: “Everybody’s telling me free agents don’t want to sign [with the Lakers]. … They’re looking at the Lakers now as a team that’s dysfunctional; who’s their leader, who’s the guy?”

“Dr. Buss was smart,” Johnson said. “He said, ‘I’m going to get the best dude, Jerry West, and he helped me achieve my goals. Then I went and got the best coach [Phil Jackson].’ He wanted to work with the best.”

Most of the basketball world reacted negatively to Kobe Bryant’s two-year, $48.5 million extension with the Los Angeles Lakers. Media and fans tsk-tsk’d the franchise for giving so much money to a late-career Kobe; some of them accused Bryant of being selfish for taking the deal.

“Most of us have aspirations for being businessmen when our playing careers are over,” Bryant said. “But that starts now. You have to be able to wear both hats. You can’t sit up there and say, ‘Well, I’m going to take substantially less because there’s public pressure, because all of a sudden, if you don’t take less, you don’t give a crap about winning. That’s total bull—-. I’m very fortunate to be with an organization that understands how to take care of its players, and put a great team out on the floor. They’ve figured out how to do both.”

“Most players in this league don’t have that. They get stuck in a predicament – probably intentionally done by the teams – to force them to take less money. Meanwhile, the value of the organization goes through the roof off the backs of their quote, unquote selfless players. It’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.” […] “Bull—-,” Kobe Bryant finally again said on his way back to the locker room. “Pure bull—-.”

Kobe’s argument is simple: the owners strong-armed their way into the punitive CBA, and it makes no sense for the players to be the ones forced to sacrifice.

]]>http://www.slamonline.com/nba/kobe-bryant-calls-bullsht-on-criticism-of-48-million-deal/feed/55SLAMonlineLakers GM Says a Title Team Can Still Be Built Around Kobe Bryanthttp://www.slamonline.com/nba/lakers-gm-says-a-title-team-can-still-be-built-around-kobe-bryant/
http://www.slamonline.com/nba/lakers-gm-says-a-title-team-can-still-be-built-around-kobe-bryant/#commentsWed, 27 Nov 2013 16:00:07 +0000http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=298136

The Los Angeles Lakers inked Kobe Bryant to a two-year, $48.5 million deal, and the hoops world went nuts. According to GM Mitch Kupchak, it won’t be easy, but they believe a championship-caliber roster can still be constructed. From the team website and LA Times: “Q: On how much management weighed Kobe’s new contract, or if they talked with Kobe about his new extension, in terms of preserving cap space for 2014 and 2015: Kupchak: ‘The two variables were really how can we compensate Kobe and at the same time maintain financial flexibility. But our feeling was based on existing contracts, could we compensate Kobe on the manner we felt he deserved and at the same time be able to have that substantial flexibility. We don’t have a minimal amount of flexibility. Then you have to weigh what’s going to happen this summer. Everybody forgets that Kobe would to be a free agent this summer, too. We got who we feel is one of the top free agents available this summer, and we still have the ability to pursue other free agents or other opportunities between now and the trading deadline, or this summer, or the next summer based on the flexibility.’ Q: On if he feels the Lakers have enough cap flexibility to build a championship contender in the next couple years with Kobe under contract: Kupchak: ‘I think we do, I think we do. The challenge is there. The collective bargaining agreement doesn’t make it any easier for anybody. It’s restrictive and challenging, but yes, I do believe we can.’ […] The Lakers and Kobe Bryant agreed to a contract extension Monday, a move the team was willing to make before seeing Bryant return to game action from a torn Achilles’ tendon. ‘We didn’t see the point of waiting,’ said Lakers owner/executive Jim Buss. ‘As far as trusting Kobe coming back on the court, you’re a fool if you don’t think he’s going to [play well]. I have 100% faith.’ Buss joined General Manager Mitch Kupchak on the TWC SportsNet pregame show. ‘There’s no doubt that he’s going to return and that he’ll play at a high level,’ Kupchak said. Bryant is expected to finish his career with a record 20 seasons (at least) in a Lakers uniform. ‘He means so much to the family, the Lakers, the Lakers fans,’ Buss said. ‘It feels good to lock up an icon like that.'”

When the Los Angeles Lakers approached Kobe Bryant about maintaining his status as the NBA’s highest-paid player, he certainly wasn’t about to persuade them otherwise.

The franchise stared at the reasons for not signing their ageing superstar to such a massive deal in the face — the unknown regarding Kobe’s health going forward; the salary cap hit that may hinder them from building a title-contending franchise around Bryant — and basically screamed “YOLO!”

“This was easy,” Bryant said on Monday night. “This wasn’t a negotiation. The Lakers made their offer with cap and building a great team in mind while still taking care of me as a player. I simply agreed to the offer.”

“This wasn’t something I decided to do; this wasn’t something [general manager] Mitch Kupchak decided to do. This was a Buss family decision,” Lakers executive vice president of player personnel Jim Buss said on Monday night. “We made him the highest-paid player in the NBA because we felt like it was the right thing to do. This wasn’t about what somebody else would pay him or outbidding anyone for him. This was to continue his legacy [with the Lakers], our legacy of loyalty to our iconic players.”

The deal has been universally panned — some charge that Kobe Bryant is greedy; others that the Lakers weren’t wise to invest so much in the fading legend — and Bean lashed out a bit on Instagram (he unimaginatively called critics “slow”.)

The Lakers’ immediate future on the court doesn’t look all that promising, but they seem thrilled with their decision:

“Loyalty is one of the values our dad instilled in us,” Buss said. “It’s how he ran the Lakers and how we aspire to continue to run the Lakers. It’s what our fans and iconic players deserve.”

While talking to a group of Los Angeles Lakers season ticket holders, GM Mitch Kupchak touched on Kobe Bryant’s recovery from Achilles surgery, and admitted that David Stern’s infamous veto of the 2011 trade for Chris Paul remains a very sore point. Per the LA Times: “Kupchak acknowledged the franchise is preparing for the time after Bryant is gone. ‘He’s not going to be here forever. Just like Elgin [Baylor] wasn’t here forever, Jerry [West] wasn’t here forever — Wilt [Chamberlain], Kareem [Abdul-Jabbar and] Magic [Johnson],’ said Kupchak. ‘Everything runs its cycle.’ The difficult task ahead for Kupchak will be rebuilding under the difficult rules of the 2011 collective bargaining agreement. ‘The [CBA] really made a concerted effort to level the playing field in terms of taxes, the ability to sign free agents, the [salary] cap, the exceptions,’ Kupchak said. ‘We’re starting to see, slowly, some of the effects of that agreement. This is something that all the smaller-market teams in the NBA wanted.’ Kupchak said he expects smaller-market teams to benefit in the standings. ‘The owners … want, as much as possible, to level the playing field,’ he said. ‘I’m not sure we’ll be able to have three superstars and dominate for eight or 10 years. I just don’t think the new rules will allow that.’ Kupchak also gave credit to Commissioner David Stern, who is retiring in February, for globalizing the NBA game. ‘He’s done so much for this [league with] his vision,’ Kupchak said. ‘… We’ll miss him, with the exception of one moment.’ In 2011, Kupchak had agreed to a trade with the New Orleans Hornets (now Pelicans) and Houston Rockets to bring Chris Paul to the Lakers — but Stern stepped in as temporary owner of the Hornets to stop the blockbuster deal. ‘Have you forgiven him for that one moment?’ asked Lakers broadcaster Stu Lantz, moderating the event. ‘No I haven’t,’ Kupchak answered.”

He remains the same arrogant, defiant superstar he’s always been, but Kobe Bryant’s Achilles injury has forced him to admit some doubt and vulnerability as he enters the twilight of his career.

The Los Angeles Lakers have no idea what to expect from Bryant this season, and talks of a contract extension don’t appear to be on the horizon. According to executive vice president of player personnel Jim Buss, the team will allow Kobe to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

Per the OC Register:

“No, I don’t know what I’m going to be like when I come back. I’ve worked very hard and I have been blessed to be around great mentors, have been taught great fundamentals and have learned multiple positions. I’m hoping I will be able to adjust if I’ve lost any quickness or explosiveness.” I interrupt. “You told me a year ago you would never allow me to see you slip as Michael Jordan did in his final NBA run.” “It’s not going to happen,” Kobe says. “I’ve talked to a lot of actors who won’t take a role if they don’t think they can execute it.”

He becomes a free agent at the end of the season, and Jim Buss says because of the pay structure of the NBA, the Lakers will allow Kobe to become a free agent. He says he has talked to Kobe and believes they have an understanding, Bryant waiting as a free agent while the team spends to upgrade and then using what is left over to pay Kobe. “We’ve probably talked,” says Kobe while being somewhat vague, “but I’m putting off any thought of that.”

They’ll never admit it, of course, but it’s obvious that the Lakers won’t be competing for an NBA title this year. Flush with cap space, the front-office envisions a major rebuild in the summer of 2014.

To no one’s great shock, Los Angeles Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak insists that despite Dwight Howard’s departure and the monster free agent class next summer (and 2015), the team will do its best to be as competitive as possible in 2013-’14.

How disappointed was he to lose Howard in free agency to the “little town” of Houston, as Shaquille O’Neal derisively called it? “It wasn’t a surprise. I had a feeling that Houston was a frontrunner, and whenever a player is an unrestricted free agent, anything can happen,” Kupchak said. “Clearly, we wanted to keep him here in Los Angeles, and I felt we did everything we could do within reason to show we did want to keep him here. Until the end, I kept up hope. I think we were as persistent as we could be within reason. I wasn’t shocked but I was disappointed.”

With Kobe Bryant coming back at an unknown date from a torn Achilles’ tendon, is it time to punt away next season and play for a high draft pick in 2014? “You know that’s not our plan. Our plan was to bring back Dwight Howard and that would have sky-rocketed our payroll,” Kupchak said. “That’s never a plan here with our fan base, to throw in the towel before the season begins. We always try to win, and that’s what we’re going to do this year.”

Unlike Jim Buss, Kupchak won’t make any predictions about Kobe Bryant’s return to the court, though the GM says he’s optimistic:

“Obviously, we’re all hopeful and we all know Kobe. When you guess on Kobe, he always tries to prove you wrong,” Kupchak said. “The reality is he’s doing what he should be doing. He’s making progress probably weekly. Does that mean five months is possible or it’s really going to be eight or nine or 10? We just don’t know. When he gets back in September, we’ll take another look at him, but he hasn’t been on a basketball court. It’s really premature to try to predict other than try to be optimistic that he’ll be ready for opening night or the 15th of November or the 1st of December or the 15th of December.”

Despite having added some athleticism on the cheap this summer, and a potentially happier locker room next season, the Lakers have plenty of challenges ahead. It remains to be seen just how healthy and effective Steve Nash and Pau Gasol will be, and the team’s defense remains a major concern.

The organization may not be going into tank-mode, but Lakers fans would be wise to keep an eye on the future beyond next season.

After the news broke that free agent center Dwight Howard had chosen the Houston Rockets, endless reports emerged that the big fella was being indecisive once again. Well, the Los Angeles Lakers and Dwight himself put an end to all of the speculation. GM Mitch Kupchak confirmed that DH won’t be wearing Laker Purple & Gold next season: “We have been informed of Dwight’s decision to not return to the Lakers. Naturally we’re disappointed. However, we will now move forward in a different direction with the future of the franchise and, as always, will do our best to build the best team possible, one our great lakers fans will be proud to support. To Dwight, we thank him for his time and consideration, and for his efforts with us last season. We wish him the best of luck on the remainder of his NBA career.’ […] ‘I’ve decided to become a member of the Houston Rockets. I feel its the best place for me and I am excited about joining the Rockets and I’m looking forward to a great season. I want to thank the fans in Los Angeles and wish them the best.'”

The Los Angeles Lakers are pulling out all of the stops for free agent center Dwight Howard. Kobe Bryant, whose relationship with Howard last season was at times strained, will reportedly be part of the group of current and former Lakers who will try to convince Dwight to rejoin the franchise. Per ESPN: “Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash will be a part of the Lakers’ pitch to free agent center Dwight Howard on Tuesday, league sources said. The Lakers are still finalizing the roster of people who will be a part of their pitch — several Lakers luminaries have offered — but the two future Hall of Famers will definitely be a part of the delegation that will have the last word with Howard before he makes his decision. […] Bryant went through a very similar process as Howard in 2004, when he entertained the idea of leaving the Lakers as a free agent. In the words of one source, he came ‘very’ close to leaving for the rival Clippers until a face-to-face meeting with Jerry Buss convinced him to stay. The pitch Buss gave to Bryant then is similar to what the franchise will tell Howard now, sources said. Simply, that the Lakers remain committed to winning championships, and will do what’s necessary to give the team a chance to contend every season. ‘Kobe visited with teams and more than one team,’ Kupchak said Thursday, after the NBA draft. ‘We were on pins and needles. The city, we had just gotten beaten [in the Finals], Phil [Jackson] left for the first time and we traded Shaquille. There was a lot of uncertainty on what Kobe would do, a lot of rumor very similar to what’s going on right now. When the phone call came in, we didn’t know which way it would go. I would say it’s very similar.’ […] ‘There was a period where Kobe was earning his stripes in Los Angeles,’ Kupchak said. ‘Here it is, seven, eight or nine years later and I think that’s what would happen with Dwight once he puts his roots down and says ‘This is the place I want to be.’ I think that’s part of the problem. I think the city feels they were renting him for a year. But the reality is he couldn’t sign an extension. Financially, the rules provide that he wait until July 1 to get the best deal he could possibly get. It was one of those situations where please tell us you want to be here and please show us you want to be here. But he can’t do it until July 1. I think that’s part of it. Of course the way the season went didn’t help things either.'”

All along, the Los Angeles Lakers were expected to meet last with free agent center Dwight Howard. GM Mitch Kupchak surprised everyone by briefly meeting face-to-face twice with the superstar over the weekend, with the Houston Rockets racing to Los Angeles for their own pow wow with the big fella. Per the LA Times and USA Today: “The Lakers got the first word with new free agent Dwight Howard on Sunday, craftily sneaking in a brief meeting after free agency began at 9:01 p.m. As Houston Rockets executives and luminaries (Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler) piled into a Mercedes-Benz van for dinner with Howard in Los Angeles, Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchakwent to see Howard for some face time with the NBA’s top free agent. Point, Lakers. They’ll also get the last word Tuesday, meeting with Howard in a final effort to pitch their importance to the player they employed last season … and hope to pay for five more years and $118 million.” […] Even though the Houston Rockets were given the first formal meeting with Howard in Los Angeles near the start of free agency Sunday night, Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak made two unexpected connections with Howard leading up to his much-anticipated round of meetings. The first came on Saturday, as the two discussed Howard’s future and why he belongs in Laker Land one last time before Kupchak’s competition came to town. Then Kupchak made a surprise visit on Sunday night, a brief well-wishing that came just minutes after the 9:01 p.m. PT buzzer sounded and before Howard headed out for dinner and a presentation with the Rockets. […] The Lakers expect to have the last official word, as their meeting with Howard is scheduled to follow the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday after the Golden State Warriors and Atlanta Hawks meet with him on Monday. But this was the informal touch, these brief-but-potentially-pivotal moments in this scripted schedule that were only possible because of the advantage of incumbency. Officials from other teams would have been breaking league rules if they spoke with Howard on Saturday, and the idea of another general manager popping in at the Sunday time that was slated for another team is unlikely if it wasn’t Howard’s former boss as well. The Saturday meeting would have qualified as tampering for any of the suitors from Houston, Dallas, Atlanta and Golden State, and the one that preceded the Rockets’ meeting on Sunday night sent yet another strong message to the coveted big man that they would fight just as hard to keep him as the rest of the lot would to take him away. It made for a curious start to this process, as Houston had been expected to meet with Howard right when the free agency buzzer sounded. Instead, Rockets general manager Daryl Morey was tweeting about the meeting that was, it seemed, unexpectedly delayed.”

It’s fairly simple for the Los Angeles Lakers – they’re desperate — really, really desperate — to ink free agent center Dwight Howard this summer, being that they consider the big fella the key to their future. According to GM Mitch Kupchak, DH’s back (which hampered him all season) is healthy again. Per the team website: “Kupchak detailed why he expects Kobe Bryant to be ‘as focused and driven as ever’ on the basketball floor next season, saying he was ‘amazed’ at the optimism and fortitude from the shooting guard who’s been with the Lakers for half of his life. At the same time, as a GM building a roster, Kupchak acknowledged that the franchise always has to look ahead to the future. Kupchak said that as with Jerry West, Magic Johnson and so on, everything comes to an end at some point, and the franchise has to plan accordingly. That is, in part, where Howard comes to mind for Kupchak. Perhaps Howard’s most staunch supporter throughout a difficult 2012-13 season, Kupchak said he didn’t expect Howard to play through the back injury until January, and felt like he got much better as the season went on. ‘All in all, taking into consideration the season, new players and most importantly the injury that he had, I think he had a great season and just didn’t get enough credit for it,’ said Kupchak. ‘Dwight is in a category of the great; he’s over his back injury and there’s no reason he can’t play seven or eight more years at that position, and there’s no doubt in my mind (that) if he does, he’s in the Hall of Fame, and those players are just hard to come by.’ Kupchak was then asked to relay his main message about why the Lakers want Howard to return to Los Angeles: ‘He’s our future.'”

The Zen Master has made it clear on numerous occassions that he’s done with coaching. Still, Phil Jackson continues to be an influential voice around the NBA, and he’s even consulting with his old team. Well, sort of. Jackson has been in touch with the Los Angeles Lakers’ front-office in an unofficial capacity, though that could potentially change going forward. Per the LA Daily News: “My message to Lakers fans is Phil is a part of the organization because of me,’ said Jeanie Buss, who’s the Lakers’ executive vice president of business operations and serves as the team’s governor. ‘He’s part of my life and part of my family. He’s always in Laker world, no matter if he has an official position or not.’ Would Buss want Jackson to have an official position with the team? ‘I think we’re in good hands with our front office,’ said Buss, referring to Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak and her brother, Jim, the team’s vice president of basketball operations. ‘Jim and Mitch know Phil is a phone call away. He’s always available. He would always do anything to help, support or listen. It’s like we’re all family.’ […] Kupchak confirmed Jackson ‘s revelation that they talked ‘in the past couple of weeks’ about unspecified issues concerning the Lakers. ‘I’m not sure why somebody like Phil isn’t working for an NBA club right now,’ Kupchak said. ‘He has so much to offer to any franchise. Even though he doesn’t have an official role with us, he’s a consultant of sorts.’ […] ‘It’s not something I expect them to rely on me for information. But I’m there to offer it,’ Jackson said. ‘They asked if I can be of assistance. I said yeah, I’ll help in whatever area you need to have help.’ Jackson declined to specify those issues, but there’s one thing clear. Despite the insistent ‘We Want Phil’ chants permeating Staples Center, the Lakers won’t bring back Jackson to coach. Kupchak has already publicly maintained Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni will return next season. The Lakers’ front office also believes a full training camp and a healthier roster will ensure D’Antoni fares better than a first-round exit to the San Antonio Spurs. […] But how much confidence does Jackson have that he will have a larger role with the Lakers? ‘Jimmy obviously has a long term contract,’ said Jackson, who added they have a ‘casual relationship.’ ‘I don’t see any need to have a future role right now. There may be at some point, but at this point I don’t see it happening.'”

Despite Dwight Howard’s intention to hear from multiple suitors this summer, and the possibility that he’ll sign with another team, Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak continues to insist that he believes the free agent big man will be back in Purple and Gold next season. Per the team website: “You were ‘hopeful’ and ‘optimistic’ during exit interviews on April 30 about Dwight Howard returning in part because of the unique opportunity of playing for the Lakers and everything that encompasses especially for a franchise-type player. What’s your feeling more than a month later? Kupchak: ‘No different from what I said at the end of the season. We have a dialogue, and we do talk, but we’re not allowed to negotiate until July 1. We talk about when he’s getting in the gym and what he’s doing, how his back is feeling and things like that. From the conclusion of the season to July 1 is two months, so it’s important to work on your body and your game in that time.’ Once free agency hits, it’s been reported that Howard will visit some other teams. How do the Lakers go about that free agency process with him? Kupchak: \Dwight has earned the right to become a free agent, and he probably will be recruited and perhaps make a couple of visits. That being the case, I would hope that we’d have a chance also before he makes his decision.’ And that would be your opportunity to sit down again, go over your plan and make your case as to why he should stay? Kupchak: ‘Absolutely.’ What would you want to convey to him? Kupchak: ‘We would try to do what the other teams will do, which is convince him that this is the spot for him. I think we have an advantage in that he’s played here for a year. I’m biased – I think this is the best city to live in with the best fans in the NBA. There are certain things that you remind him of or talk to him about, and you hope that it plays in your favor.'”

Despite so much uncertainty and controversy, the Los Angeles Lakers remain confident in their ability to retain center Dwight Howard. Nevertheless, suitors for the big fella’s services include the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets, and now, there’s word of Howard considering the Golden State Warriors and Atlanta Hawks as possible free agent destinations. Per the LA Daily News: “I’m optimistic,’ Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak said. ‘Just look at what we have to offer.’ Kupchak then ticked off the Lakers’ championship history, the team’s fan base and the ‘lifestyle’ Los Angeles affords. He also alluded to the Lakers’ financial leverage. Howard can sign with the Lakers for five years and $118 million or go somewhere else for four years and $88 million. The NBA’s labor deal devised five-year deals to boast annual raises worth 7.5 percent of the first-year’s salary, as opposed to four-year deals that have 4.5 percent raises. Howard wouldn’t have to pay state income taxes for home games if he played for the Houston Rockets or Dallas Mavericks. Kupchak also believes Howard will co-exist with head coach Mike D’Antoni, whom Kupchak has said will return next season. ‘I have absolute and complete confidence,’ Kupchak said. ‘Players don’t have to like coaches. They just have to play hard. In L.A., our coaches get evaluated on wins and losses and not whether our players like them or don’t like them.’ Kupchak won’t have clarity on Howard’s future anytime soon. A source familiar with Howard’s thinking says he plans to test free agency and has considered the Lakers, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta and Golden State. Nothing remains binding, though. The source added Howard’s main concern involves ‘what team he feels has the best chance to win championships, has the best team and system around him.’ The source also stressed Howard has not and will not ask the Lakers to make any moves on his behalf. Kupchak acknowledged the team has made unspecified contingency plans in case Howard leaves. Either way, Howard can’t officially re-sign until July 10 when a moratorium on NBA business is lifted.”

When the stunning news broke, Phil Jackson appeared hurt and confused by the Los Angeles Lakers’ decision to hire Mike D’Antoni. Jackson, of course, never shied away from giving his opinion as D’Antoni and the Lakers endured a disastrous season. The Zen Master now says all he could do was laugh when informed of the team’s decision to turn him down for the coaching job. Per ESPN: “When Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak called Phil Jackson to tell him the Lakers were hiring Mike D’Antoni instead of him as coach, he responded the only way he knew how. ‘I laughed,’ Jackson said. ‘It was humorous to me when Mitch said that we think that Mike is a better coach for this group of guys.’ Jackson had been prepared to tell Kupchak whether he was interested in returning to the Lakers bench the next day, but the GM called Jackson late that Sunday night, Nov. 11, to tell him the Lakers had decided to go in another direction. Jackson said he believes the Lakers made the decision largely based on catering to Steve Nash, their 39-year-old point guard who was limited to 50 games this season as he battled a variety of injuries. ‘I think it didn’t happen because there was some concern how are we going to move in the right direction for this ballclub,’ Jackson said. ‘When Mitch gave me the call close to midnight on Sunday night right before I was going to give them an answer Monday morning and said, ‘We’ve made a choice. We’re going to hire Mike D’Antoni. We think he’s the best coach for this group of guys.’ My answer was, ‘For Steve Nash, yes, I agree but for Dwight Howard, I’m not so sure.’ In the process of thinking about how they could best use the team I think they thought first and foremost about Steve Nash and how Steve Nash was going to fit inside of an offensive system that I coach. … I think that was a concern for them.’ […] ‘They wanted to move to a quicker, 3-point oriented game, which is kind of the rage right now in the NBA,’ Jackson said. ‘I felt like with Pau Gasol and Dwight Howard we could emulate a lot of what we did with Andrew Bynum and Pau and pound the ball inside and have an interior game that was strong. But it was their choice and that’s all right with me. It was OK with me if that’s what they wanted to do. In fact, there was a little part of me that felt relief in not having to strap it up and make the decision and get on the road. I think it was only five games into the year so we still had 77 games left to go in that season.’ Although Jackson was interested in returning to the Lakers last season he said he wouldn’t be interested in the job now even though Lakers governor Jeanie Buss, who he is engaged to, still thinks Jackson can coach.”

After a report came out that soon-to-be free agent center Dwight Howard was none too pleased with his coach, Los Angeles Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak tried to step in front of the story, and said there was no major problem between Howard and Mike D’Antoni. Per the OC Register (via Sulia): “Kupchak said he didn’t want any D’Antoni talk from Dwight anyway given Mitch’s insistence that Lakers won’t have any player dictate the coaching situation. ‘To be honest with you, I wouldn’t let it go there anyway,’ he said. Howard and Kupchak spoke privately, same as some other Lakers did with the GM, after finishing their standard meeting with D’Antoni on April 30. But Kupchak said there was no talk with Howard about D’Antoni once he left the room — and certainly no venting. Kupchak has worked to gain Dwight’s trust this season but would not specify if there were any other discussions about D’Antoni. Regardless, Kupchak was clear that he isn’t worried about it, especially after D’Antoni featured Dwight more and won more games late in the season. Said Kupchak: ‘I’m not saying they don’t have differences like with any coach or any player. I don’t think it’s anything that goes beyond.'”

Howard was one of several Lakers — Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol being the most noteworthy — to have an extended separate meeting with (GM Mitch Kupchak) after his exit interview with both Kupchak and D’Antoni, multiple sources confirmed. According to sources with knowledge of the situation, part of the discussion between Howard and Kupchak centered around Howard’s frustration with D’Antoni — particularly how the center felt marginalized as the coach looked to Bryant and Steve Nash for leadership and suggestions and discounted Howard’s voice. Every player was afforded the opportunity to meet with Kupchak individually after D’Antoni left the room, but few spent as much time as Howard and Kupchak did together.

Kupchak left the meeting with Howard undeterred, telling reporters he was “hopeful” and “optimistic” that Howard would be back with the Lakers next season and beyond, yet there have been several developments in the last couple weeks that could have an effect on Howard’s decision.

For what it’s worth, the Lakers publicly supported their coach, and said his job was safe heading into next season.

The front-office said they were confident in their ability to retain the franchise center, but it’s clear there are plenty of reasons to be nervous if you’re a Lakers fan and teammate of Dwight Howard as his free agent decision looms.

The Zen Master is the middle of heavy promotion for his new book, and there’s no better way to drum up interest in the oeuvre than to dig up the old Michael Jordan vs Kobe Bryant debate (being the only man to have coached both players, Phil Jackson’s opinion counts quite a bit.) According to Phil, who appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Thursday, there really is no debate. Jackson also discussed the Los Angeles Lakers’ disastrous hiring of Mike D’Antoni.

The Los Angeles Lakers are entering an offseason of deep uncertainty. The biggest concern, naturally, is what Dwight Howard will do. Steve Nash wants him back, and Kobe Bryant seems confident in the big fella’s return. Howard, though, says he needs time to clear his head first (and get healthy) before any free agent decision can be made. Per the LA Times: “I’m going to take my time, get away from the game, my phones and everything and just clear my head,’ Howard said Tuesday in an end-of-season interview at the team’s practice facility. ‘I’ll do what’s going to be best for myself, what’s going to make me happy. I can’t control who likes me, who dislikes me, but I have the right to be happy.’ Bryant said it was ‘very important’ for Howard to return. GM Mitch Kupchak also stated his case, expressing confidence in ‘selling the Los Angeles Lakers’ to him. ‘I think he has complete faith in the organization. I think he does like living here. I think it’s all good, which leads me to why I’m optimistic,’ Kupchak said. ‘But if there’s something here that we’re lacking, I don’t know what it is.’ Howard can’t visit other teams until becoming a free agent at 9 p.m. on June 30. Dallas, Houston and Atlanta are among the other possibilities and can offer a maximum of four years and $88 million. Howard can re-sign with the Lakers for five years and $118 million. ‘I think he understands that the sooner he makes a decision, the better it is for everybody,’ Kupchak said. ‘I don’t know if that means a week, a month or seven weeks.’ […] Bryant also had a recruiting pitch for him. ‘I think Los Angeles is the perfect spot for him to assert himself, kind of put his foot down and have his career really take off and be what it should be. There’s no greater place for centers to play than here in Los Angeles,’ he said. Bryant predicted Howard would stay with the team. ‘From a business standpoint it makes more sense, both contractually and also perception-wise,’ Bryant said. ‘A lot of things go well for you if you win here.'”

According to Los Angeles Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak, head coach Mike D’Antoni will be back on the sidelines in Hollywood next season after helping guide the team to a 7th Playoff seed (going 28-12 since the infamous late January team meeting.) Per the LA Times: “Yeah, he’s back. I think he’s done a great job,’ Kupchak said. ‘There’s been no discussions otherwise. He’s made adjustments. He’s been flexible. He’s evaluated how he coaches as the season’s progressed. He’s listened to the players. He’s very easy to work with and we think in particular since the meeting the day of the Memphis game, yeah.’ D’Antoni is 40-32 since taking over as the Lakers’ coach, though the Lakers are 28-12 since the day after a team meeting called by D’Antoni in Memphis in January. D’Antoni, 61, has two more guaranteed years for a total of $8 million. The Lakers also owe former coach Mike Brown about $6 million over the next two years. Brown was fired five games into this season. […] ‘Much has been made of the injuries, and the coaching change [in November] and no training camp, which is certainly a part of it,’ Kupchak said of their up-and-down season. ‘It takes a while. You’re in New York coaching and you see the Lakers once or twice a year, you don’t know the personnel. And the injury situation when he got here, Steve Nash had the broken leg. There’s just too much going on to really look at it any other way.'”

As expected, the Los Angeles Lakers announced that Kobe Bryant will miss the rest of the season. Bryant underwent surgery to repair a torn left Achilles tendon this afternoon. Optimistically, the Lakers hope that Kobe will be ready to go by opening night of the 2013-’14 season. GM Mitch Kupchak told reporters that the team has not discussed the possibility of amnestying Kobe Bryant, who is owed an NBA-high $30.4 million next season: “Third-degree rupture,’ said Lakers head athletic trainer Gary Vitti of Saturday morning’s MRI results. ‘It’s gone. It has to be sewn back together.’ Vitti said that the plan is to have Bryant ready to play for the start of next season, providing a rough timetable of six to nine months. ‘He’ll be immobilized for quite awhile – a month or more,’ Vitti explained. ‘Then like anything else, he’ll start working on strength and range of motion. This isn’t something you want to speed up or accelerate. You don’t want to lengthen the tendon too soon because then that destroys the repair. It’s a very delicate process of getting the strength and length back into the tendon without overloading it too soon. […] Obviously when something like this happens, everybody wants to know why. And there’s not always a reason why. If you look at our season, it’s been a nightmare. […] To say he was injured because he played 48 minutes the last however many games is a stretch. Lots of guys rupture their Achilles tendons and don’t play 48 minutes. To make that correlation isn’t fair. We’ve just had a very bad luck season, but we’re not done. Kobe showed some tremendous guts out there hitting the two free throws that kept us in the game, and eventually we won the game. The kid went up there with a torn Achilles tendon and buried two free throws. I think it’s a big inspiration to our players and we’re ready to play the next two games.’ On if he’ll be back by the beginning of the next season: Vitti: ‘That’s the plan. (Timetable recovery they said is six to nine months).’ Q: On the severity of the injury: Vitti: ‘There are no good Achilles tendon ruptures. Third-degree rupture. It’s gone. It has to be sewn back together.’ Q: On what makes him believe Kobe can win this battle: Vitti: ‘I said to him last night this is just another challenge in your life. The game of basketball comes too easy for you, so you need these things. The best thing you can do for us, as media, is say things like: ‘He can’t do it.’ That will force him to do it. He’s already taken the challenge. He’s already made the decision today to have the surgery. For us, it’s trying to keep him down and trying to slow him down.'”

Long before the coaching change, injuries, the endless drama, inexplicable losing, and the painfully slow recovery from back surgery, Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak told Dwight Howard when he arrived in Los Angeles that he wanted to hang his jersey up in the Staples Center rafters some day. Kupchak continues to push that line of thinking publicly, and says that he envisions Howard getting his own statue years from now. (This, friends, is your cue to laugh uproariously.) Per ESPN: “Dwight is our future,’ Kupchak said. ‘Kobe [Bryant] has one more year on his deal [this year, plus one]. That’s all I can bank on or this organization can bank on. I have no idea if he wants to continue to play beyond next year. As of now, we’re looking at a two-year window, [and that] plays to the urgency of the situation and how we build the team. … This team’s window to win is this year and next year. … We’ve been very consistent,’ Kupchak said. ‘We’re not trading Dwight Howard. … He will not be traded and there’s nothing that anybody can do today to call me today and ask me, ‘Would you do this?’ and get a positive result.’ Kupchak called Howard the best center in the league and expressed how difficult it is to acquire talent like that, especially with the restrictions in place since the league’s new collective bargaining agreement was ratified. ‘It’s hard to get talent in this league and to have a talent like Dwight Howard, we have no intention of trading Dwight Howard,’ Kupchak said. ‘He deserves … belongs to have his name on the wall [as a retired uniform] and a statue in front of Staples [Center] at some point and time.'”

]]>http://www.slamonline.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers-gm-says-dwight-howard-deserves-a-statue/feed/56Lakers GM: ‘We Will Not Trade Dwight Howard. We Have No Intention of Making a Trade’http://www.slamonline.com/nba/lakers-gm-we-will-not-trade-dwight-howard-we-have-no-intention-of-making-a-trade/
http://www.slamonline.com/nba/lakers-gm-we-will-not-trade-dwight-howard-we-have-no-intention-of-making-a-trade/#commentsMon, 04 Feb 2013 16:53:21 +0000http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=251089

It goes without saying that things haven’t exactly gone as planned in Laker Land so far this season, even getting to the point that many have speculated the team will trade Dwight Howard before he has the chance to walk this summer. Not gonna happen, Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak told Newsday: “The rocky season started with coach Mike Brown’s firing after a 1-4 start. After a brief scenario of Phil Jackson rescuing the season, the Lakers turned to former Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni. But the losing continued, especially on the road, where the Lakers are 7-16. They play 18 of their remaining 34 games on the road, including Tuesday night against the Nets. ‘We’re very happy with Mike D’Antoni,’ Kupchak said. ‘I think when he took the job I think he thought Nash [fractured left leg] might be out a week or two. Not two months. Getting everybody on the same page took a little longer than expected. Not to say it’s been smooth sailing, that’s for sure.’ Asked about his remaining options to salvage this season, Kupchak said, ‘We will not make a trade. We will not trade Dwight Howard. We have no intention of making a trade. It’s unlikely that we’ll make any trade with any of our principal players. To make another change at this time of the year being behind the eight-ball like we are, I think that would just make it more difficult. The talent is there. We have to find our way.’ But there is no denying that the Lakers, who have a $100-million payroll and a tab of nearly $30 million in luxury tax, have been a huge disappointment.”

As the Los Angeles Lakers’ hellish season trudges forward, the vast majority of the blame for their troubles has fallen on the shoulders of head coach Mike D’Antoni. Fans and the media see him as the main culprit for this ongoing disaster. As for the only voices that truly matter — those belonging to the Laker front-office and ownership group — they seem to think the players (and their perceived lack of effort) are at fault. Per ESPN: “Without a doubt, we have utmost confidence in Mike (D’Antoni) as a coach,’ GM Mitch Kupchak said. ‘I think if you spoke to him, his vision on Day 1 was dramatically different than it is today. It’s the coach’s job to adjust and to make changes. Sometimes a player is just not going to fit. Sometimes a coach has to make changes and compromise in the way he’s done things and I think that’s what Mike is going through right now is just the process. The Lakers have hit the midway point of the season riding a three-game losing skid as some of the promises made in D’Antoni’s introductory news conference in November are starting to ring hollow. D’Antoni claimed the team should “easily” average 110-115 points per game under his guidance. They’ve crossed the 110-point threshold just eight times in the 31 games since he took over, going 5-3. At the time of D’Antoni’s hiring, Kupchak said the new coach’s system was “more suited to the talent” on the Lakers than Phil Jackson’s Triangle offense, and yet several players have had a difficult time fitting in — Dwight Howard has sniped publicly about his lack of post-up and shot attempts, Pau Gasol has balked at accepting his role off the bench and free agent acquisitions Antawn Jamison and Jodie Meeks have both had to endure strings of DNP-CDs (Did Not Play — Coaching Decision) under D’Antoni. Yet, Kupchak said D’Antoni’s shuffling of the roster is evidence that the coach is willing to change and try new things in order to try to start winning. ‘It’s not like he started a week or two ago trying to figure this thing out,’ Kupchak said. ‘He’s been searching for combinations now for probably six to eight weeks. Understandably, I think the longer the season goes the more is at stake and the bigger hole you dig, the more dramatic your adjustments or your take on coaching has to become. I think that’s what he’s doing. He’s grabbing every rabbit out of the hat trying to look for something that works.’ […] ‘You don’t want to get too emotional one way or the other, but, we’re halfway through now,’ Kupchak said. ‘Quite frankly, we’ve dug a hole and I think it’s frustrating for everybody. It’s certainly not what anybody or everybody expected halfway through the season.’ Kupchak singled out the Lakers’ effort, or lack thereof, as the most frustrating part to see. ‘I’m a little bit concerned about our effort,” Kupchak said. “I’d like to see better effort on the court. When the ball is not bouncing your way, when shots aren’t going in, you just can’t seem to get a break, the one thing you can control on the court is your effort and loose balls and running the floor, defending, offensive rebounding. I think back to the Miami game and I have that vision of LeBron (James) diving on that ball at midcourt. That’s effort. It’s natural when things get tough to hesitate and be unsure, lose confidence. That’s one thing that we can’t let happen. We have to maintain our confidence and our effort more than anything has to be at an all-time (high) to get through this period.'”

According to Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak, the team could apply for an exception allowing them to add another player to the roster now that Jordan Hill’s season has been cut short. Per the LA Times: “The Lakers are eligible to apply for the exception, which would give the team an additional $1.78 million in spending power. ‘We’ll look into it,’ said Kupchak. ‘We have until Tuesday.’ A disabled player exception can be used to sign a free agent for up to one season. It can also be used to acquire a player (making up to $1.88 million) via trade, as long as that player will be a free agent this summer. The deadline for a team to apply for a disabled player exception is Jan. 15. The injured player must be considered sidelined until at least June 15. If granted, the Lakers would have another tool to add to the roster, along with the $1.59 million remaining of their mid-level exception. The team also has three trade exceptions, the biggest of which is $1.42 million from the Luke Walton trade. The Lakers have 14 players on their roster, one spot available should they look to sign a free agent. “

Jim Buss, the maligned executive vice president of the Los Angeles Lakers, continues to express utmost confidence in the team turning its season around. He might be the only one at this point. Buss blames most of the Lakers’ struggles on injuries, and says the front-office won’t blow things up. Buss also says they’re very confident in their ability to sign Dwight Howard during free agency next summer. Per ESPN: “We still like this team a lot,’ Buss said. ‘How can you not believe in this team? This team is built to win. It’s a very, very solid team. We haven’t seen them all together and play together for games. In my mind, we would not consider a temporary fix or blow it up. Why blow up something we have a future with? It’s very difficult to talk this way because we’re five games under or six games under .500, and we’ve dug ourselves a hole. But at the same time, I feel that if we put it together, we can string seven or eight games in a row and dig ourselves out of this hole. If we play with the energy we’ve seen in the last two games, then I think you go into the playoffs with momentum.’ Buss was referring, of course, to the Lakers’ injury woes this season. Steve Nash missed seven weeks with a broken bone in his leg. Dwight Howard has struggled in his recovery from back surgery and is now out indefinitely with a torn labrum in his right shoulder. Pau Gasol has missed time with assorted leg injuries and is now out with a concussion. Backup point guard Steve Blake has missed all but the first five games with an abdominal injury. […] ‘We thought Steve Nash was our future point guard for the next three years and we needed a coach we felt would fit with him,’ Buss said. ‘That was one of the main issues where we thought that (Mike) D’Antoni was better than Phil (Jackson). Well, not better, nobody’s better than Phil, but we felt that he fit the team the way we wanted to work it. I like D’Antoni a lot. I still believe in him 100 percent. I have no questions about him. We just have to have this team work together and play together. We just don’t have enough information to analyze anything. It’s just not enough data to put your finger on a problem.’ […] ‘If we make the playoffs, that means we’re playing well and I think we’ll go deep in the playoffs and it’s a no-brainer that (Dwight Howard) stays,’ Buss said. ‘I think if it continues to fall apart because of injuries, I’m hoping we can convince him, ‘Look, everybody was injured, you weren’t 100 percent for the whole year, let’s give it another shot next year.’ It points to 95 percent that we’ll be able to keep him. I can’t control what he does, but I can sure make a great argument.'”

In a meeting with season ticket holders, Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak was candid when addressing the struggling team’s many, many issues. Kupchak didn’t mince words when it came to the failures of the Lakers so far, while leaving room for a glimmer of hope going into the second half of the season. Per the LA Times: “Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak told a group of about 1,000 season-ticket holders at Staples Center that he was ‘disappointed’ with the team’s performance this season. ‘If you have a bunch of cylinders, we’re not running on all cylinders right now,’ he said during a Q&A session Sunday morning, before the Lakers fell to 15-18 with a 112-105 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Sunday night. The major question for the organization seems to be the integration of Pau Gasol with Dwight Howard, under the guidance of Coach Mike D’Antoni. ‘I think Pau continues to struggle to figure out how he’s going to play with his group,’ Kupchak said. ‘Our coaches are struggling as well. We’re not going to succeed as a team until we figure that out.’ Kupchak also noted the Lakers’ need to improve defensively. ‘The players that we have on this team are certainly capable of playing lock-down defense,’ he said. ‘Everybody has to look at the defense … just like the offensive side of the ball. Most guys really, really want to score. In order to be a good defensive team, everybody has to really, really want to play defense and defend.’ Kupchak said a Lakers roster with an average age of 28.5 was not too old. ‘I don’t think age is a factor, no. That’s an excuse,’ he said. ‘I don’t think that’s a factor at all when you look at our team. Young teams don’t win championships. You have to have a good mix of experience and some legs in this business … I don’t think for a second this team is too old to win a championship.’ Kupchak also said Kobe Bryant, who is averaging an NBA-leading 30.5 points and whose 48.3% shooting from the field would be a career best over a full season, has improved with age.”

The Los Angeles Lakers have gotten off to a rough start, which is putting it mildly: they’re overrun with injuries, continue to deal with a stunning and controversial coaching change, and they can’t seem to defend anyone. The Lakers currently boast an almost unthinkable 9-12 record. According to GM Mitch Kupchak, he’s not yet ready to fully evaluate the squad. Kupchak also does his best to put to rest the Pau Gasol trade rumors. From the LA Daily News: “The Lakers (9-12) enter tonight’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers (4-17) in 11th place in the Western Conference. Long-term injuries to Steve Nash (fractured left leg) and Steve Blake (lower abdominal strain) and a coaching change from Mike Brown to Mike D’Antoni prompted Kupchak to say ‘it’s impossible’ to evaluate this team. Nor do these variables provide clarity on what will happen after Dec. 15, the first time teams can deal players they signed during the offseason. ‘If you’re happy with your team, then the date doesn’t mean much although you will probably get calls anyway,’ Kupchak said Monday in a phone interview with this newspaper. ‘If you’re not happy with your team, you’ll make calls.’ […] Kupchak sounded definitive at least on two topics. That involved his evaluation on Mike D’Antoni, who has a 4-7 record with the Lakers. ‘He’s not happy with the record he’s had since he’s been here,’ Kupchak said. ‘But there’s been clearly an uptick in the tempo of the game and that’s something we were looking for. We’re very comfortable with the coach we have. We’re happy to have him.’ Kupchak also answered whether the Lakers will keep Pau Gasol for the rest of the season. ‘That has always been the plan,’ Kupchak said. ‘Nothing has happened to change the plan.'”

Be it on Twitter, his TV appearances, or in media interviews, Magic Johnson can’t seem to contain his frustration with what the 9-12 Los Angeles Lakers are doing (or, not doing.) The Laker legend continues to trash their effort on both ends of the floor, while questioning the philosophies and approaches of the front-office and coaching staff. Per Fox Sports: “We have got to get back to playing solid defense,’ he said at the beginning of his smiling tirade about all things Lakers. ‘That will make our offense go. Kobe [Bryant] is not going to ever have trouble scoring. [Pau] Gasol — if we put him in the right position — won’t have trouble scoring. Dwight [Howard] can score. So, we can score. But we can’t outscore everybody. You have to play defense first. Then you have to go down to the offensive end and score. Our transition defense is terrible, and every team is running [over] the Lakers right now because they know they’re faster, quicker and more athletic than the Lakers. So, if it takes us to slow the game down, that’s what we should do. You know what we’re doing — we’re speeding it up, putting ourselves in a tougher position. When we’re taking [and missing] long 3-point shots, which gives the opposition an opportunity to fast break more. So, we have to figure out what’s a good shot and what’s a bad shot. Also, do we really want to run with everybody when we really don’t have runners? That’s the key.’ The struggling Lakers are just 9-12 on the season, tied with the Trail Blazers with the fourth-worst record in the Western Conference. ‘I love the Lakers so much and I die with every single game they lose. I’m frustrated because I love them so much. And I don’t like where we are. I watch the faces, and it’s almost like [the players] don’t know what they’re doing or how to do it. ‘ […] ‘(Jim Buss) has to rely on Mitch Kupchak’s basketball knowledge. Look, Dr. Jerry Buss let Jerry West make basketball decisions. West just said ‘Dr. Buss, here’s who I want to trade and these are the reasons that I want to trade him.’ Dr. Buss would tell him to go ahead and make the move if it was going to help our team. Jim wants to make the move and then tell Mitch to do it. No. (He) doesn’t have that kind of basketball expertise. You’ve got to let Mitch Kupchak make those decisions. That’s what made the Lakers so great. We had Jerry West — the greatest basketball executive of our time — making the basketball decisions. Look at Miami and what’s happening with the Heat. Why are they so great? Because Pat Riley is making basketball decisions. Now he’s the best basketball executive in the game today. And they all came from the Lakers.’ […] ‘The system is wrong for this team. And if it doesn’t change, (Mike D’Antoni) will be the wrong coach for this team. We don’t have runners — look at the roster. Things will change a little bit offensively — no question — with Steve [Nash] back and healthy. But that’s not going to help us … in terms of playing defense.'”

The man was fired just five games into the season, but his bank account is healthy, and he’s happy to spend more time around his family. Mike Brown also says that he hopes his former team wins. Per the LA Times: “How are you DOING?’ he asks happily Wednesday, as if there’s nothing in his life that would hint at loss of job, loss of camaraderie, loss of Lakers. The franchise’s 22nd coach seemed perfectly fine with what has happened in his life since Nov. 9, the day he arrived at the office, was pulled out of a meeting with assistant coaches and told by General Manager Mitch Kupchak he no longer worked for the Lakers. They were 1-4 at the time. Brown was surely surprised, though he tried not to sound like it in his first interview since the firing. ‘I tell you what, I had a lot of really nice phone calls from around the league that day,’ Brown said. ‘Front-office people, other coaches, stuff like that. It always helps when your peers call and help you get through a time like this.’ Does Brown miss it? Of course he does. But maybe not as much as expected. It helps that he’s still going to earn $10 million. He had another full year on his Lakers contract after this one and a partial guarantee in 2014-15. He’s not hurting for money. And he’s not dying to watch every Lakers game. ‘I still have a fondness for all the guys on the team. I really enjoyed working with all of them,’ Brown said. ‘The coaching staff was unbelievable, in my opinion. I hope they win. In terms of watching them, it does not intrigue me enough to watch them. I guess I just don’t feel like I have a need to do it. But I hope they do well because these are people I work with and care about. I learned so much from working with Kobe [Bryant] and I hope he learned something working with me.'”

According to media reports, the Los Angeles Lakers have spoken to Pau Gasol about a possible trade if he can’t adjust to coach Mike D’Antoni’s system. However, they don’t appear ready to pull the trigger anytime soon. Per ESPN: “The Los Angeles Lakers, largely at the behest of general manager Mitch Kupchak, have rebuffed trade inquiries from at least two teams for Pau Gasol, according to sources with knowledge of the Lakers’ thinking. The Toronto Raptors and Minnesota Timberwolves have both recently tried to engage the Lakers in trade discussions for Gasol, sources said, but the Lakers continue to tell teams that call that they will not consider dealing the Spaniard until L.A. can fully assess its roster after the return of injured point guard Steve Nash. […] Sources said Wednesday that, along with the strong support that Gasol continues to get publicly and behind Lakers doors from star guard Kobe Bryant, Kupchak has been adamant that L.A. should wait until Nash’s return before making any further judgments about how the team’s parts mesh. D’Antoni took the job Nov. 11, knowing he wouldn’t have the benefit of training camp, when the Lakers made the third-fastest coaching change in NBA history by firing Mike Brown five games into the season. Stretch power forward Andrea Bargnani, veteran point guard Jose Calderon and fellow vet Linas Kleiza are among the players, sources say, that the Raptors have discussed making available to the Lakers in a deal for Gasol. It’s an open secret around the league, meanwhile, that Timberwolves general manager David Kahn has been trying since last season to acquire Gasol to join fellow Spaniard Ricky Rubio in a three-man core with All-Star forward Kevin Love, but sources say that the Lakers continue to resist Minnesota’s attempts to build a trade offer around 2011’s No. 2 overall pick Derrick Williams and center Nikola Pekovic. […] It is widely presumed around the league that Howard’s former Orlando teammate Ryan Anderson, now in New Orleans, is the Lakers’ No. 1 trade target if they were to consent to dealing Gasol. But sources said on Wednesday that Anderson is regarded as a virtual untouchable by the Hornets, given that the 24-year-old is not only a highly competent stretch power forward signed to a comparatively reasonable four-year contract but also because Anderson has proven to be an underrated rebounder.”

As soon as Mike D’Antoni was hired to coach the Lakers, fans and media began predicting that Pau Gasol wouldn’t fit in his high-octane offensive system, which would eventually lead to a trade. According to ESPN, the Lakers recently broached the subject with their embattled (and injured) big fella: “Gasol is sitting not because a trade involving the former four-time All-Star is in the works, according to multiple league sources. However, a source said that Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak has recently spoken to Gasol’s representatives and the gist of the conversation was that if Gasol is unable to adjust to D’Antoni’s system, the team will have no choice but to search for possible trade scenarios. Their game against the Rockets is the start of a particularly tough stretch for the Lakers — eight of their next 10 are on the road. L.A. is 1-4 away from Staples Center this sason. […] Kobe Bryant said he could relate to Gasol’s struggles, telling reporters after Tuesday’s shootaround that he had to make a similar decision to sit out late last season when tenosynovitis in his left shin caused him to miss seven games. ‘We talked about it a little bit,’ Bryant said. ‘It’s difficult for him, obviously, because he doesn’t have the explosiveness that he had, so a lot of it I’m assuming has to do with his being injured physically and not being able to get up and down the court and perform at a high level, which could lead to some frustration. I dealt with it with the shin. You’re kind of out there playing around and playing and you kind of wind up being a little bit of a shell of yourself because of your physical limitations.'”

Back in June, HBO‘s Real Sports interviewed Phil Jackson, and he provided some of the usual juicy quotes we’ve come to expect from the Zen Master. In a follow up chat, HBO caught up with Phil about the controversial hiring of Mike D’Antoni by the Lakers. Jackson says he cannot picture anyone else doing a better coaching job than himself in Los Angeles: “Bryant Gumbel: ‘Back in June we aired a profile of Phil Jackson done by our Andrea Kremer who spent some time in Montana with him. Phil has been in the news of late because he was gonna get, then didn’t get the LA Lakers job. What happened?’ Andrea Kremer: ‘Well, I spoke to him several times after Mike Brown got fired. A firing that he said was surprising and impulsive to him. At midnight on Sunday night he received a call from Mitch Kupchak, saying we’ve hired Mike D’Antoni and we just finished a contract with him 20 minutes ago. So I said, your reaction, when you hung up the phone. He said, ‘I started laughing. In my mind’s eye it never occurred to me that someone else would be a better coach for this team than me.’ Gumbel: ‘Can we allow that Phil Jackson is a big man, physically, and he has an ego that is commensurate with his size?’ Kremer: ‘No doubt, when you have 11 championships rings I think you probably can earn that. I mean you follow what goes on in LA. I mean the clamoring for him was amazing with the fans. There’s no question about that. He said that he felt he could do the job with this team. He maintained to me that he had not talked contract terms with them. The only personnel power that he wanted was what he had when he left the team two years ago. Which was to have input in the decisions. That he was fully prepared to coach 77 games this season. He said that he had not discussed an ownership stake. Who do you believe? But I will tell you that the one thing that in talking to people in LA, is that this was a decision by Dr. Jerry Buss, ultimately.'”

Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers didn’t like the way the whole Phil Jackson/Mike D’Antoni saga ended in Los Angeles, and he blasted the Lakers for their treatment of the Zen Master. Per the LA Times (via Mad Dog Radio): “I didn’t like the way it was done,’ said Rivers. ‘I don’t think you embarrass anybody.’ After relieving Mike Brown of his coaching duties, the Lakers had initial talks with Jackson. While the team’s former coach (and 11-time NBA champion) was mulling over the possibilities, the Lakers instead hired Mike D’Antoni for the job. ‘Whether you like Phil or not, he’s won a lot of titles and I think he was owed more than that treatment, in my opinion, especially [from] that franchise,’ continued Rivers. […] The Lakers play the Celtics twice in February, starting on the 7th in Boston. Jackson and Rivers met twice in the NBA Finals, both taking home a title. ‘I thought they could have handled that better,’ said Rivers. ‘At the end of the day, I think they got their man [in D’Antoni].'”

Most Laker fans are still upset about the team’s decision to hire Mike D’Antoni instead of Phil Jackson — and will likely remain that way unless D’Antoni wins an NBA title with this team — but we don’t think anyone died as a result. According to Magic Johnson, he’s been in “mourning” ever since Pringles got the job. From Magic’s Twitter: “The reason I haven’t tweeted in 2 days is because I’ve been mourning Phil Jackson not being hired as the Lakers head coach. My mother always taught me that if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”

Phil Jackson has come out and said he that he felt cheated and misled by the team, a sentiment shared by many Laker fans. Today, GM Mitch Kupchak faced the media, and explained the process that led to the surprising hire of head coach Mike D’Antoni. Per the team website: “Q: On what took place with Phil Jackson: Kupchak: ‘Much has been made of the perceived agreement to wait until Monday. The actual way it took place after a basketball discussion was, ‘Where are we now?,’ and Phil said he needed more time. I asked him how much more time, and he said he’d get back to (us) on Monday. I said, ‘Phil, I have a job to do and I’m going to have to continue my search and interview candidates.’ He nodded that he understood. Maybe herein lies a little bit of the misunderstanding. As it was reported, we never offered a job, and he never indicated he would coach the team. It was a basketball discussion revolving around a lot of questions. So we did what I indicated we would do, which is when I left Phil’s house, I began discussions with Mike D’Antoni on Saturday afternoon, and we also set up an interview with another candidate for Sunday. All day Sunday, Jim and I and Dr. Buss (from another location) continued to discuss what the (best move) would be. After multiple phone calls with Mike D’Antoni on Sunday afternoon, at 5 or 6 o’clock on Sunday, we made the decision that Mike D’Antoni was going to be the next coach of the Lakers. It revolved almost completely around the personnel that we have on the team and the style of play we saw going forward for the team. Of course we took into consideration a structured offense, which is what we went through with Mike Brown. We looked at our personnel – without going into great detail, some of our guys I don’t think would be successful in the triangle, (and) some of our new players might take a long time to learn the triangle. So we decided Mike would (be the coach).’ Q: On calling Phil Jackson at midnight to relay the decision: Kupchak: ‘Our feeling was, the worst thing we can do – since we already made our decision – was to wait until Monday. I could (have) gotten a call from Phil on Monday morning saying he thought about it, and he would like to be the coach and let’s start negotiations. To say at the point that we’d decided to go in a different direction, our feeling was that would be even worse than what we did on Sunday night. Our feeling was there was no agreement to wait for (Jackson’s) response on Monday. He told us that’s when he would get back to us. I could see where he might interpret that as ‘You guys would wait for me,’ but I thought when I said I had to interview other candidates it was clear that we had a job to do. I could have waited until Monday morning to call Phil – I didn’t look forward to calling somebody at midnight to tell him he’s not going to get a job he might or might not accept, but the only other thing I could do was wait until Monday morning and that would have been worse, because (the news had gotten out).’ […] Q: On what was discussed in the meeting with Jackson: Kupchak: ‘There was no discussion of salary in the meeting. I don’t know why there would be. The job wasn’t offered, and he didn’t say he wanted the job. We touched briefly on personnel input, which he would hope that he’d have more input. And we talked about the rigors of travel in the NBA. But there was no demands or in depth discussion about missing games. Missing games because of travel was not discussed.’ […] Had Phil Jackson expressed definitive interest to take the job during the Saturday meeting, Kupchak said he and Jim Buss would have ‘immediately’ huddled with Dr. Buss, and ‘decided what we were going to do.’ When that didn’t happen, Kupchak called two other candidates, starting with Mike D’Antoni, and became more and more convinced as they spoke to D’Antoni further. Kupchak said that ultimately, they had to ‘come to grips with’ saying no to Phil Jackson, which was not easy, especially since there was such a groundswell of support for the Hall of Famer, even extending to chants during games.”

Jackson said he vacillated over the question all weekend after meeting Saturday with team vice president Jim Buss and General Manager Mitch Kupchak, who went to his home. He hadn’t solicited the visit, but he welcomed them. He was interested in talking about a third run with a team he’d coached from 1999 to 2004 and again from 2005 to 2011. The meeting lasted about 1 1/2 hours. Jackson told them he thought he could do the job. The chat concluded with a handshake and Jackson had the impression he had until Monday to come back to them with his decision. He never got the chance.

The Lakers woke up Jackson with a phone call near midnight Sunday to tell him that Mike D’Antoni would be their coach. “I wish it would have been a little bit cleaner,” Jackson said. “It would have been much more circumspect and respectful of everybody that’s involved. It seemed slimy to be awoken with this kind of news. It’s just weird.”

After Jackson’s demands were deemed a little too much by the front-office, Mike D’Antoni has signed a mulit-year contract with the Lakeshow. The deal will reportedly pay D’Antoni $12 million in three guaranteed seasons, and includes a team option for the fourth.

Per the team website:

Lakers spokesman John Black confirmed on Sunday night that the team has signed Mike D’Antoni to a multi-year contract. The team is expected to have a press conference to announce the deal most likely on Tuesday or Wednesday of the coming week. According to Black, Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss, executive vice president Jim Buss and general manager Mitch Kupchak were unanimous that D’Antoni was the best coach for the team at this time. Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash both expressed support for the idea of playing for D’Antoni, who was Nash’s coach in Phoenix when the point guard won consecutive MVP awards in 2005 and 2006.

“After speaking with several excellent and well-respected coaching candidates, Dr. Buss, Jim and I all agreed that Mike was the right person at this time to lead the Lakers forward,” said GM Mitch Kupchak. “Knowing his style of play and given the current make-up of our roster, we feel Mike is a great fit, are excited to have him as our next head coach and hope he will help our team reach its full potential.”

In addition to Phil Jackson’s steep demands — a salary in the $10 million/year range, reduced travel for road games, more say in personnel decisions — the Lakers apparently felt that the Triangle Offense wouldn’t be the best way to maximize a roster featuring Steve Nash and Dwight Howard, after the team struggled to adapt to the Princeton Offense.

It takes quite a bit for an NBA franchise to remain on top and contend for titles on a regular basis – front-office smarts, good trades, solid draft picks, etc. – but above all, it takes money. Lots of it.

The Los Angeles Lakers generate more revenue than most (if not all) of their rivals, but their operation is getting more costly to run than ever before. Thanks to the newly agreed upon Collective Bargaining Agreement, the Lakers could end up facing a tax bill of some $95 million after this season if they want to keep their core of players together.

“My feeling is that we’ll continue to pursue the top players in the league,” Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak said. “There will always be an emphasis on having the franchise be able to survive and prosper.”

This is the last season the Lakers will pay a dollar-for-dollar penalty for exceeding the luxury-tax threshold, meaning that their league-high payroll of $99.2 million will cost them an additional $28.9 million in taxes, because that’s how far they are above the $70.3-million tax level. The tax will raise the tab for their player costs to $128 million. Starting next season, the tax burden gets significantly heavier. NBA teams must pay a $1.50-to-$1 ratio for the first $4.99 million they are over the luxury-tax threshold, a $1.75-to-$1 ratio for being $5 million to $9.99 million above the threshold, a $2.50 ratio for $10 million to $14.99 million over, and a $3.25 ratio for $15 million to $19.99 million beyond the threshold. Teams that are $20 million or more over the tax level accrue additional penalties, increasing by 50 cents per dollar for every $5 million. Those extra pennies can add up to millions, particularly for teams with multiple all-stars.

The Lakers already have $79.6 million committed to eight players for the 2013-14 season. Assuming they re-sign [Dwight] Howard next summer to a maximum contract that calls for him to make $20.5 million in the first year, that bumps the Lakers payroll over $100 million. If their final payroll was $105 million, that would put them $32 million over the league’s projected tax threshold of $73 million, triggering a tax of $94.5 million and putting the team on the hook for a staggering total of $199.5 million — a 55.9% increase over the total for this season with essentially the same group of core players.

Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak recently spoke to SI about a number of issues, and as expected, he touched on new LA big man Dwight Howard’s health and what’ll be expected from Howard come late October: “SI.com: Can you update Dwight’s status? How is his back coming along? Kupchak: We had the doctors and the back people obviously examine him and he’s on track. He should recover completely. Certainly, we’re not going to rush him to play in the first practice or the first preseason game or the first game. It’s going to be when he feels and when our people feel he’s completely recovered. But our understanding of the rehabilitation is that he’s on track to a complete recovery. SI.com: Any sense of a timeline? Is the regular-season opener still a possibility? Kupchak: We haven’t had those kinds of discussions. There’s no need for anybody to set a timeline right now, but we’re comfortable with his work and where he’ll be.”

Despite Lakers’ GM Mitch Kupchak’s assurances, Andrew Bynum’s representative says there have been no talks between the team and its young center about a contract extension. Reports the LA Times: “I saw the report,’ Lee said of media accounts in which Kupchak said last week that the Lakers had begun discussions about an extension. ‘I think Mitch’s comment was that we had ‘a cordial and productive’ conversation. It was cordial and it was productive, but it had nothing to do with an extension.’ Kupchak actually used the phrase ‘productive and positive,’ though the gist is the same. Lee said the Lakers also had not asked about other teams Bynum might be willing to re-sign with, an inquiry that would likely be a precursor to a trade. Lee would not say whether Bynum, who is slated to make $16.1 million next season, would prefer to secure a larger contract by waiting until next summer to sign an extension as opposed to signing one now. According to figures provided by independent collective bargaining agreement expert Larry Coon, Bynum could add three years and $57.1 million to his existing contract if he signed an extension. By comparison, if Bynum re-signed after next season, he could command a maximum five-year, $101.9 million deal. ‘When it comes to Andrew, we deal with things as they are presented to us as opposed to speculation,’ Lee said. ‘It’s not even a conversation I’ve had with him because there’s no reason to have it. We don’t talk about things until we have to deal with them.'”

Mitch Kupchak shocked everyone when he swung a deal for Steve Nash this summer, but he tells reporters in Los Angeles that making another blockbuster deal (*cough* Dwight Howard *cough*) isn’t very likely. From the LA Times: “Only two weeks after declaring the Lakers would try to hit a home run, General Manager Mitch Kupchak helped hit one out of the park. Their coveted prize came in the form of elite point guard Steve Nash. He officially signed his three-year, $27-million contract Monday morning. Nash stood at an introductory news conference at the Lakers’ practice facility in El Segundo proudly displaying his No. 10 Lakers jersey. And he gushed for over half an hour about how this arrival bolsters his chances to win his first NBA championship entering his 17th year. But could the Lakers follow up with another dinger? ‘We think we’ve got one this year,’ Kupchak said. ‘So you’re asking if we can do that twice? I’m not quite sure that’s possible.’ Most Laker fans will interpret that as a sign Dwight Howard probably won’t come to L.A. Kupchak wouldn’t specify, as he declined to address any questions pertaining to the Magic center. But the Lakers haven’t given up yet. The Times’ Mike Bresnahan reported the Lakers reentered negotiations Tuesday for Howard and are more open into absorbing Jason Richardsons’ contract. Meanwhile, Kupchak acknowledged the Lakers are nowhere near negotiating with Andrew Bynum and his representatives over a long-term extension after exercising his $16.1-million option for next season. The Lakers center is considered the necessary piece for any deal involving Howard. ‘We will sit down and go through this period and address things that are most urgent,’ Kupchak said. ‘Not that anyone of our starters’ futures is not urgent. But there will be a time and a place for that.'”

Magic Johnson, being in the unique position of honorary team vice-president and media member, continues to be highly critical of the coaching staff, and applying pressure for the Lakers’ front-office to make drastic roster changes. Per the LA Times: “Jim Buss, brother, you have a job to do,’ Johnson said as an ESPN NBA analyst. ‘I’m telling you right now because if you don’t do it, you’re going to hear from me.’ […] ‘Those are your tradeable pieces,’ Johnson said of the Lakers’ two big men (Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol). ‘You still build around Kobe [Bryant]. He was still great no matter what his age is. This man showed he’s still dominant as a player. To me, you have to get younger and more athletic. Oklahoma City is young, athletic and fast. The team to beat is the team that knocked you out. That’s Oklahoma City and then the San Antonio Spurs.’ […] Despite initially arguing the Lakers needed to shore up their speed and athleticism, Johnson found the idea of shopping Gasol and Bynum for other frontline talent pretty tantalizing. ‘Josh Smith is out there. He’s not happy,’ Johnson said. ‘Call Atlanta. You have Gasol sitting there. You don’t know what Dwight Howard wants to do. Give Orlando a call because they would love to have Bynum in return for Howard if he doesn’t want to stay … After you get past Dwight Howard, Bynum and Tim Duncan, that guy, Pau Gasol, is the best big man in basketball,’ Johnson said. ‘Nobody has more skills than Gasol. The problem is you have him sitting on the high post. Yes, Mike Brown’s offense drives me crazy. How can you say this guys’ skills are eroding and he doesn’t have them? No, I’ve seen this man dominate in the playoffs and the regular season. If a team wants a big man, you have to call the Lakers. You have two sitting there that are great.'”

It promises to be a busy summer for the front-office of the Los Angeles Lakers, and even though he wouldn’t go into any great detail, Mitch Kupchak did promise change in personnel for the team. From the LA Times: “There will be some change,’ said Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak, the sting still fresh from another ouster in the Western Conference semifinals. ‘When you lose before you think you should have lost, you have to open up all opportunities. ‘We get graded on the success of the team. That’s how it is in this franchise….We’re disappointed. We thought going into the season, and even up until a week ago, that we were one of three or four or five teams that could contend for a championship.’ Instead, the Lakers failed to get out of the month of May, again. On the same day Kupchak reaffirmed the Lakers would pick up a $16.1-million team option on Andrew Bynum next season, it became more obvious that Pau Gasol would be the team’s main trade chip. He underperformed this season, averaging only 12.5 points in the playoffs, and couldn’t get any firm answers from Kupchak in his exit meeting. ‘I wish I could have clarification, but they can’t give it to me right now,’ said Gasol, who has two years and $38.3 million left on his contract. ‘I think management still has to talk to ownership to see what direction this thing will be going next year.’ The Lakers have a host of players who will become free agents July 1. Point guard Ramon Sessions is also expected to become one by declining a one-year, $4.55-million player option next month. Matt Barnes is not expected back. Jordan Hill and Devin Ebanks probably will find only limited interest in the free-agent market. Despite saying the Lakers would pursue trades more aggressively, Kupchak added that the team could be successful if it didn’t pull off anything.”

“It’s kind of unfamiliar territory,” Bryant said after midnight and after the Thunder beat the Lakers 106-90 on Monday night at Chesapeake Energy Arena and 4-1 in the series. “I’m really not used to it. It’s pretty odd for me. I’m not the most patient of people and the organization’s not extremely patient either. We want to win and win now. I’m sure we’ll figure it out. We always have and I’m sure we will again.” Pressed about being a veteran team that had just been knocked out of the playoffs by the youthful Thunder, Bryant said: “I’m not fading into the shadows, if that’s what you’re asking. I’m not going anywhere.” “The entire team…” a reporter began the follow-up question. “We’re not going anywhere,” Bryant interrupted. “It’s not one of those things where the Bulls beat the Pistons and the Pistons disappeared forever. I’m not going for that (stuff).”

And yet Bryant is willing to gamble considerable stakes against any critic who suggests the Lakers’ championship window has closed. “Put your house on it,” Bryant said. “I would put my house on it. I ain’t going nowhere. They can put their house on it, but I don’t think they want to bet that because they’re not stupid. They’re foolish, but they are not stupid.”

Bryant, smartly, wouldn’t speculate on what changes the Laker front-office needs to make this offseason, but it would seem obvious that a major shake-up is needed. Kobe netted 42 points last night, and except for Pau Gasol (who he’d publicly shamed into being more aggressive), he was seemingly all alone out there.

After a tense and highly competitive first half, the OKC Thunder made quick work of the Lakers in the second half, sending them into an offseason of great uncertainty. And despite Kobe Bryant’s assurances, there are no quick and easy answers for his Lakers going forward.

The Blazers’ search for a new general manager is well underway, and they reportedly want to interview the Lakers’ Mitch Kupchak. Per the Oregonian: “Blazers president Larry Miller said the Blazers have not reached out to the Lakers to get permission to speak with Kupchak. But Miller also did not deny that the Blazers might have interest in the Lakers’ general manager. ‘Maybe,’ Miller said. ‘I don’t want to get into who’s on our list, not on our list. But we have not reached out to anyone with the Lakers to get permission. If that has been reported, that is not true.’ Does Miller plan to seek permission? ‘I can’t answer that one,’ Miller said. Kupchak is the third candidate to surface as a potential target, joining former Phoenix Suns general manager Steve Kerr and agent Noah Croom.”

With word of Andrew Bynum’s fine from the team (due to numerous behavioral issues) having leaked, Lakers head coach Mike Brown and GM Mitch Kupchak faced the media, and did a little bit of damage control. From the LA Times: “It’s an internal matter,’ Brown said, declining to elaborate. ‘Just because you guys found out about this, to overreact, I’m not about to do that right now.’ When Brown was asked whether he thinks Bynum has an attitude problem, he said ‘No. I know that when I was in San Antonio, we fined guys for certain things and, I mean, I don’t think anybody would say the year we won the championship in 2003 that anybody, maybe one guy, anybody but one guy on our team had an attitude problem.’ […] ‘Sometimes with young players I get disappointed and sometimes I’m pleasantly surprised,’ Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak said. ‘Andrew continues to have a mix of good moments and maybe not-so-good moments. But he’s very bright, a really intelligent kid.’ Kupchak said he ‘absolutely’ envisioned Bynum with the Lakers down the road. ‘Despite some of the events of the last week or two, nothing has changed about our forward approach with Andrew,’ Kupchak said.”

Problems stemming from Andrew Bynum‘s on-and-off-the-court behavior in Laker Nation are no secret, and now, a report from ESPN states that the team has fined the big man (who won’t be suiting up for tonight’s game due to a left ankle sprain) for his actions: “Bynum recently was fined an undisclosed amount for ‘numerous infractions,’ multiple sources confirmed. One of the stunts that warranted the fine from the team was Bynum blowing off a meeting with Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak. Bynum said he was unaware of the fine before getting into his car outside the Lakers practice facility and driving away after the team’s shootaround in preparation for their game against the New Jersey Nets on Tuesday. Bynum did tell the website, though, he will not play in Tuesday night’s game after suffering a moderate sprain of his left ankle in the first quarter of a game against the Golden State Warriors on Sunday. The sprain did not require an MRI on Monday and X-rays on Bynum’s ankle were negative, but Bynum did not participate in the Lakers’ shootaround on Tuesday. Bynum used the shootaround time for treatment, which included anti-inflammatory medicine. Lakers coach Mike Brown had said Bynum’s status would be a game-time decision. ‘I can’t play,’ Bynum said while wearing tape around his left ankle. ‘Hopefully (Wednesday against the Clippers).'”

According to the LA Daily News, Andrew Bynum’s benching on Tuesday night wasn’t just due to him taking an ill advised three pointer early in the shot clock. The big fella has reportedly been getting on his coach’s nerves, and others in the Laker organization are less than impressed with his behavior and attitude of late: “Bynum’s shot was the latest in a catalogue of items that have annoyed Brown, his staff, the players and team management over the past few weeks. [Mike] Brown had seen enough and decided to sit the 7-footer for all but 5minutes, 17 seconds of the second half. The 24-year-old Bynum has played loud music in the Lakers’ locker room, which has been frowned upon over the years. He also has been disrespectful to members of the coaching staff and to his teammates for about the past three weeks. Brown said Thursday he stood by his decision to remove Bynum from the game. Brown also said the larger situation will be handled internally, with Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak speaking to Bynum about his actions on and off the court. ‘At that moment, I didn’t feel that was the right shot in the game,’ Brown said. Kupchak wouldn’t say if he had spoken to Bynum yet ‘because the next question is: `What did you say?’ Much has been said and much has been dissected. Obviously, some of it you can attribute to a person growing up. It just has to be addressed. I think like most young, intelligent people, he will be better for it.’ After his benching, Bynum sat and appeared irritated. He did not join his teammates in their huddles during timeouts. At one point, he shrugged toward a TV cameraman as if to ask, ‘Why am I on the bench instead of playing in the game?’”

Needless to say, this is an obvious move for the Los Angeles Lakers to make with Andrew Bynum. From the LA Times: “The definition of a no-brainer? The Lakers plan to exercise their team option on Andrew Bynum. ‘He’s the starting center on the West All-Star team. Why wouldn’t we do everything we could to keep him here?’ Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak said. ‘We’re ecstatic to have him on the team.’ The Lakers have until June 30 to exercise the $16.1-million option they have for the last year of Bynum’s contract. After next season, however, he becomes a free agent unless they negotiate an extension between now and then.”

Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak wisely went to bat for his wildly unpopular boss, Jim Buss, during an interview with the LA Times: “Buss’ title is executive vice president of player personnel for the Lakers, but he’s drawing more power every year as per the wishes of his father, team owner Jerry Buss. ‘Jim gets way too much criticism and not enough credit with the success this team has had,’ Kupchak said. ‘He is following in the footsteps of the most successful owner maybe of all time, which is hard to do. But since he’s gotten more and more involved, which has been about seven or eight years, we’ve had some pretty good moments.’ Buss was responsible for the Lakers’ ill-fated hiring of coach Rudy Tomjanovich in 2004, but he also helped nudge the team into drafting Andrew Bynum in 2005. It’s too early to tell the results of Buss’ latest decision, hiring Mike Brown to succeed Phil Jackson, even though Kupchak and Jerry Buss said they agreed with it. Kupchak, head of the Lakers’ basketball operations for 12 seasons, disputed Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson’s recent comments that Jim Buss was running the team. ‘It is inaccurate because there are three of us that are involved in all the basketball decisions,’ Kupchak said. ‘Dr. Buss still makes, to my knowledge, all the final decisions in the organization. He’s always deferred basketball decisions at some level to his basketball people, and Jimmy is a part of the basketball people. [Johnson] played at a time when this sport was taking off. There was one scout and a GM. Here we are almost 30 years later and it’s different today. There’s a lot more people involved and a lot more at stake [now]. [Johnson] is a fan now too. He’s no longer a part of ownership. He and I still speak, but we used to speak a lot, bouncing ideas off each other and stuff that he would hear. Like the rest of us, when you lose a game you shouldn’t lose, or lose a couple, you get emotional. This is the only thing he’s ever loved — the Lakers. It all comes from the heart with him.’ Johnson sold his 4.5% stake in the Lakers in 2010, but he remains on the payroll as a vice president.”

Pau Gasol, who has been the subject of numerous trade rumors this season, says his squad doesn’t need any major changes prior to the deadline. From ESPN: “The team is doing well. We’re winning, we’re moving on, and now people are starting to talk that we don’t need a major trade,’ Gasol said after shootaround on Tuesday. ‘We just need a tweak here and there. Or a piece that can make us better for later. That’s what you hear because we’re winning. But if we would’ve lost three of the last six games instead of winning them, then you’d hear, ‘They definitely need a major trade.’ So, anyway … I guess March 15 is closer. I know it’s coming. It’s only, what? Nine days. So no matter what, in nine days, we’ll have an answer no matter what. That’s the good thing. Hopefully after that we can put everything behind us.'”

It’s clear that no one is happy in Laker-land these days – the team is underwhelming on the court, the coaches have come under fire, and all of the front-office’s moves have badly backfired. CBS Sports takes a fascinating look at the growing mess within the organization: “The Lakers’ front office is an uncommunicative, rudderless fiasco, and the unrest and paranoia that have been festering for years threaten to derail the team’s plans to ride [Kobe] Bryant to his sixth NBA title while they still can. And much of it can be traced to the growing influence of executive vice president Jim Buss, the owner’s bon vivant son, who has helped transform a great franchise into a steaming pool of nepotism and nincompoops. In the months leading up to the lockout, the Lakers got rid of assistant general manager Ronnie Lester and most of his scouts. Rudy Garciduenas, the equipment manager for nearly 30 years, was let go. Alex McKechie, a renowned sports science expert, was told to pack up and was quickly scooped up by the Raptors. International scout Adam Fillippi wound up with the Bobcats. The list goes on. Longtime associates of former coach Phil Jackson were let go as the Lakers tried to ‘wash off anything that had touched’ the decorated coach, a person with ties to the front office said. Brian Shaw, Bryant’s preference to succeed Jackson, was interviewed for the job but came away with the clear impression that any efforts to associate himself with Jackson would ‘hurt him, not help him,’ a coaching industry source said. None of these people, who formed what a longtime NBA executive called one of the best front office staffs in the league, was given the courtesy of knowing whether they would be brought back after the lockout ended. Some are still waiting for that phone call. Joey Buss, another son of the owner who runs the team’s D-League franchise, has moved into Jackson’s old office. Jesse Buss, 23, who was arrested for alcohol intoxication in Lexington, Ky., on a ‘scouting’ trip in December, has moved into Lester’s former office. Not that anyone supposedly doing scouting or other basketball work is seen much around the team’s facilities these days. Jim Buss, who supposedly is the team’s director of player personnel, is virtually unreachable — including by me. He didn’t respond to my request for comment through the team’s media relations department, and his direct number is not listed in the Lakers directory that is distributed to teams. Even people who work in the basketball operations department have ‘no clue who’s on the staff,’ said a person with direct knowledge of the organization’s structure. ‘It would be interesting to find out who’s doing the scouting,’ the person said. [Mitch] Kupchak tried to fight to keep his staff, and his efforts were appreciated by some and viewed as not enough by others. The GM is ‘on an island by himself,’ said another person familiar with the situation. ‘He doesn’t know who to trust anymore,’ said another.”

Kobe Bryant performed a strategic rant, Pau Gasol continued to be sad … and yet, nothing is going to change in Laker-land. GM Mitch Kupchak released a statement, that basically amounted to him saying that Gasol is still very much on the trade block until further notice: “As a former player, I understand how the days leading up to the trade deadline can be nerve-wracking for an NBA player. Nonetheless, as General Manager of the Lakers, I have a responsibility to ownership, our fans and the players on this team to actively pursue opportunities to improve the team for this season and seasons to come. To say publicly that we would not do this would serve no purpose and put us at a competitive disadvantage. Taking such a course of action at this time would be a disservice to ownership, the team and our many fans.”

After publicly blasting the Los Angeles Lakers’ front-office for their handling of the Pau Gasol situation, he gave the media a knowing smile and indicated that he knew that his comments would be all over the sports pages. And, of course, it worked.

Following a disheartening loss to the Phoenix Suns, the Lakers’ 11th road defeat of the season, Kobe let it be known that the organization needs to decide whether or not Pau Gasol will remain a Laker, and needs to to do so sooner than later.

From the LA Times:

“I wish [Lakers] management would come out and either trade him or not trade him,” Bryant said after the Lakers’ 102-90 loss Sunday in Phoenix. “It’s just tough for a player to give his all when you don’t know if you’re going to be here tomorrow. I’d rather them not trade him at all but if they’re going to do something, I wish they would just … do it.” Bryant sympathized with Gasol, sprinkling in some expletives while talking about his situation. “If they’re not going to do it, come out and say you’re not going to do it,” Bryant said. “This way, he can be comfortable and go out and can perform and play and he can invest all of himself into the game. You can’t have one of our pillars not knowing if he’s going to be here or not. Do something. One way or another, do something.”

“He’s been the consummate professional,” Bryant said. “He’s going out and he’s trying to do what he can. But let’s be real. If you didn’t know you were going to be here tomorrow, if your head’s on the chopping block … it’s tough to put all of yourself into the game.” Gasol deserved security or clarity, Bryant said. “I just think it would help him out a lot,” Bryant said. “Help us out a lot.”

Kobe Bryant, who says he’s “obsessed” with winning another NBA championship, anticipates that the Los Angeles Lakers’ roster will not look the same by the time the NBA trade deadline comes and goes. Per ESPN: “I’m sure they’ll do something,’ Bryant said. ‘They’ll tweak something. I don’t know what. But I’m sure they’ll do something. Here’s the distinct difference between what’s going on now and what went on in ’06-07: Back then, I didn’t think they were willing to spend the money to have us have a successful team,’ Bryant said, referring to his infamous trade demand when he said he’d rather ‘play on Pluto’ than return to the purple and gold. ‘I just thought they were going to sit on their hands and have me go out there and score all these points and generate revenue and just not spend any dollars,’ Bryant continued. ‘So, that was the issue that I had and I said if that’s the case and that’s what your philosophy is right now, just let me go. Let me go play someplace else then if that’s what you want to do, because I didn’t want to be a part of it. Now, I don’t think that’s the case. They obviously tried to pull the trigger on a trade that they thought was going to improve our team with CP and it just didn’t happen. But, that shows me that they’re thinking in the right direction in terms of doing things to improve our ballclub. So that’s why I’m not really tripping on it. We have to be patient and we have to make the right moves and I’m sure we will.’ Bryant balked at the chance to address specifically what roster moves would be necessary to fortify the Lakers’ championship aspirations, but he supported the approach made by Lakers’ management to improve the team. ‘The motivation is for us to build a contender,’ Bryant said. ‘It’s not to just kind of sit around and see what falls in our lap. That’s not the impression that I get from management at all, so I think that allows me to be patient. You can’t just rush into things and then you make bad decisions, you make bad choices, you’re locked into bad contracts. So, it’s important to be patient, make right choices and we’ll be fine.’ When pressed and asked if he would rather play with Orlando’s Dwight Howard or New Jersey’s Deron Williams, two players who have been linked to dozens of trade rumors this season, Bryant played along. ‘Give me both, how about that?’ Bryant said with a laugh.”

Despite his heroics in the first half of last night’s game in Philly, Kobe Bryant could not pull out a win for the Lakers. While claiming that he still believes they can challenge for an NBA title, Bryant conceded that his team would have to play unblemished ball to do so. (Right. Good luck with that.) From the Daily News: “Kobe Bryant said Monday he believes the Lakers have the makings of a championship contender. A trade isn’t necessary to transform them from ordinary to something special if they play to or above their potential the rest of the way. ‘We can (contend),’ Bryant said. ‘We have to play very solid, near-perfect basketball, particularly with our second unit, which we have in the past. We’re capable of contending. Our margin is just not as great as some of the other teams.’ Lakers coach Mike Brown agreed. ‘That’s Mitch’s job, to continue to find ways to improve the team,’ Brown said, referring to Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak. ‘His track record speaks for itself. He’s more than capable of doing that. Having said that, if we don’t do anything to this team, I’m excited about this roster. I think this roster can contend for a championship. I do agree with what Kobe says. We’re an injury away, like we are now, from having to rely on rookies to help get us through and that’s a tough situation when you start talking about championships. But, with other guys around them (rookie guards Andrew Goudelock and Darius Morris), I do feel we’re capable of accomplishing that goal, yes.'”